Box Score After a brief hiatus from the hard court for the Thanksgiving holiday, John Carroll was back in action this evening in the first of two games in the Spalding Thanksgiving Tournament. Despite a furious late second half comeback attempt by Alma, the Blue Streaks prevailed 98-91 and will play in the championship game tomorrow afternoon at 3:00 p.m. against Victory University.

John Carroll (2-1, 0-0 OAC) had six players finish in double figures, including a combined 74 points and 25 rebounds from their starting unit. Alma (2-3, 0-0 MIAA) got a game-high 23 points from Lance Jongekrig, thanks to 8-8 from beyond the arc.

Box Score

The first seven minutes of the ball game had a back-and-forth feel, as neither team led by more than three points. Alma ran the floor with the Blue Streaks, who gave up four 3-pointers in the opening seven minutes. A Conor Sweeney layup gave John Carroll the lead for good with 13:13 remaining in the first half.

The turning point in the contest came over the next five-plus minutes, as John Carroll ripped off a 16-0 run thanks to outstanding defensive pressure. After Mark Hester canned two free throws with 7:57 remaining in the first half, the Blue and Gold led 35-20.

Leading 48-33 after a Joe Meyer trey with 2:50 to go, the offense went cold from the field. Coach Moran's squad found themselves on the wrong end of an 8-0 run as the half dwindled. Ryan Angers knocked home two foul shots before the horn and the Blue Streaks owned a 50-42 lead at the intermission.

Despite a 19-33 shooting effort offensively in the first half, the Blue Streaks allowed 16-28 from the floor including 6-11 from deep.

Introducing Lance Jongekrig.

JCU and Alma proved evenly matched early in the half, trading baskets in the first few possessions. But with 15:17 remaining in the contest, Jongekrig canned his third three ball of the night…and he was just getting started. After three treys in four trips down the floor, the Blue Streaks were forced to burn a timeout with 13:43 left to play, leading 67-62. Jongekrig single-handedly kept the game close, but the Scots could muster enough momentum.

The Blue Streak lead would not extend into double digits again until Joe Meyer arguably sealed the win with a three ball to extend the lead to 93-83 with 2:28 to go. Meyer finished with a team-high 19, including 4-4 from long distance.

“I treated that shot like any other,” Meyer said after the game. “I shoot my best when I don't think – just catch and shoot. My teammates did a great job of getting me some open looks.”

Despite connecting on only 2-6 from the free throw line down the stretch, the Blue Streaks were able to seal the 98-91 win and secure the 350^th win in the 20 year coaching career of head coach Mike Moran.

“We weren't covering their shooters very well and we paid for it,” said Moran afterwards. “They penetrated on offense really well. We're still searching a little bit – we need to be better with our half-court defense and we have to also recognize when we should run and shouldn't run. I'm very happy we won, but we have to use today's game as another chance to looks at ourselves and find ways to improve.”

Corey Shontz continued to dish out assists, totaling six on the night to accompany with his 12 points. Kyle Hubbard cashed in 16 points, including 6-11 from the field, and nine rebounds (six offensive). The Blue Streaks out-rebounded Alma 39-23, hauling in 19 boards on the offensive end of the floor. JCU finished the game 35-61 (57.4%) from the floor, as they totaled a to date season-high 98 points.