John Carroll came all the way back from a 13-point deficit, but could not finish the job as host Otterbein picked up its first Ohio Athletic Conference win in shocking the #25 ranked Blue Streaks, 86-83, in Westerville Saturday night.

Box Score

Otterbein came in with a 2-5 record and was winless in three OAC contests, but were up to the challenge on this night. Aided by a blistering 31-51 (.608) effort from the field, the Cardinals held the lead for a majority of the contest.

JCU held an early 9-7 lead, but the Cardinals erased that advantage and then some with a sizzling effort over the first 20 minutes. Otterbein was 18-28 (.643) from the floor in the opening 20 minutes, including a three-pointer by C.J. Julian as the buzzer sounded to give the hosts a 41-37 lead at the intermission.

The Cardinals continued to build their lead, and when Chris Davis knocked down two free throws at the 10:07 mark, Otterbein led 64-51.

JCU would fight all the way back, using a 23-9 run to take its first lead of the second half. Michael Hartnett (North Royalton, OH, Lakewood St. Edward)drained a three-pointer with 3:37 left to put the Blue Streaks ahead, 74-73.

Inexplicably, John Carroll suddenly went cold. The next four possessions resulted in a missed lay-up, two missed free throws, an offensive foul and a missed three-point try.

Meanwhile, Otterbein was converting at the other end. When Zack Bakenhaster dropped in a pair of free throws with 48 seconds left, he capped an 8-0 run that put the Cardinals ahead, 81-74.

The Blue Streaks made some threes late, but the Cardinals had enough of a cushion to survive.

While they cooled a bit in the second half (13-23, .565), the host team still ended the game shooting better than 60 percent.

"The big guys the last few games are really getting the better of us," said assistant coach John Stavole. "With Kyle Hubbard (Lakewood, OH, St. Edward)out, we just don't have the depth in the post right now. We need to go back to the drawing baord and look at our defensive schemes."

John Carroll, 0-2 without Hubbard to lead the second unit, had to play the final 8:11 without its most experienced post player and lone senior, Maurice Haynes II (Cleveland, OH, Villa Angela-St. Joseph).

The Blue Streaks (5-3, 2-2 OAC) were led by 20 points from Joey Meyer. Hartnett added 17 and Haynes 16.

Bakenhaster's 25 points for Otterbein (3-5, 1-3 OAC) led all scorers.