Considering all that the Blue Streaks have been through this season, the fact that an opportunity to capture a third consecutive regular season Ohio Athletic Conference title still existed with three games left to play was amazing enough.

But the "three-peat" bid officially came to an end Saturday. Coupled with a Marietta win over Heidelberg, John Carroll's 93-85 loss at Wilmington effectively passed the crown to the first-place Pioneers with one week remaining in the regular season.

Box Score

While still in sole possession of second place and still controlling its own destiny as far as hosting two games in the upcoming OAC postseason tournament, there would be little consolation for the Blue Streaks on this Saturday afternoon.

Right off the bat, things did not go well. JCU spotted Wilmington the first 11 points of the game before Maurice Haynes scored the Blue Streaks first basket at the 16 minute mark.

John Carroll spent the rest of the half chasing the Quakers, trailing by as many as 13 points before finally catching them when Conor Tilow (Rocky River, OH, Lakewood St. Edward) dropped in a lay-up with nine ticks left. the Blue Streaks took a 41-40 lead into the intermission.

JCU appeared to have solved the Quakers early in the second half. Storming out of the gates on a 10-4 run, a Haynes jumper at the 16:48 mark opened a 51-44 John carroll lead.

The storm would not last. Wilmington's Brandon Candella tied the game at 52-52  minutes later, after which the lead changed hands seven times.

The Streaks led 63-61 with 9:44 when Wilmington made its game-winning push. Spurred by a 14-3 run over the next five minutes, the Quakers built a 75-66 lead and never looked back.

Both teams shot better than 50 percent from the field. Wilmington was simply hotter on this day, as it countered John Carroll's sizzling second half (18-33, .533) from the floor with even greater sizzle (21-35, .600)

John Carroll (16-7, 11-5 OAC), which remains in sole possession of second place despite the loss, was paced by a game-high 23 points from Haynes, who was 8-12 from the field and 7-10 from the free throw line.

Wilmington (10-13, 6-10 OAC), which won its second in a row to stay alive in its fight for a playoff berth, was led by the duo of Tyler White and Antonio Bowman, who both scored 22 points.