The first time John Carroll faced Otterbein this season, it was an overwhelming height and home court advantage that stunned the Blue Streaks.

In this second go-around, the Cardinals still had the height advantage, but the Streaks were counting on a raucous DeCarlo Varsity Center crowd to balance the scales. 

Balance being the key word, the two teams needed an extra five minutes to decide matters Saturday evening, with homestanding John Carroll outlasting Otterbein, 99-96, in overtime. 

Box Score 

John Carroll started out tonight's Ohio Athletic Conference matchup with the with a major height disadvantage. Otterbein played three starters who were 6-5 and taller. JCU had one starter, forward Mark Hester (Ashtabula, OH, Lakeside) who was 6-5. 

But it was two of the smallest players on the floor -- Blue Streak starting guards, Joe Meyer (Mentor, OH, Mentor)and Corey Shontz (Andover, OH, Pymatuning Valley), who led JCU with 26 and 17 points, respectively. 

“We knew it was going to be a matchup between the munchkins and the jolly green giants,” JCU coach Mike Moran said. 

After a first half in which John Carroll shot 48 percent from the field and led the whole time, the second half was a different tale. 

With Shontz, Hester and Maurice Haynes all in foul trouble in the second half, the Cardinals were able to take advantage and come back by shooting an eye-popping 72 percent. 

The Cardinals took the lead, 56-53, with 12:20 left to go in the second half on a three-point play by Max Van Meter. This would set up a back-and-forth that saw 10 ties and five lead changes for the remainder of regulation. 

John Carroll appeared to take control with about five minutes left when a Mark Hester free throw gave the Streaks a seven point lead at 78-71, but the Cardinals scored nine of the next eleven points to knot the score at 80-80. 

The nailbiting reached a fever pitch in the final minute when -- with the score tied at 84-84 --both teams had chances to grab the lead. For all the frenzy, the only scoring came courtesy of a Brice Rausch free throw with 42 seconds left, and a Maurice Haynes free throw with 25 ticks remaining. 

In the overtimes session, JCU raced out to a 94-87 lead, only to have the Cardinals race back with a 9-1 answer. Matt McCollister's lay-up with 1:01 on the overtime clock gave Otterbein a 96-95 advantage. 

Hartnett, who had been held in check the entire game, would score the final four points. 

His first big splash came with a three-point field goal at the 42-second mark, and the second was a free thow made with nine seconds left. 

“We were running the dribble-drive all game and somebody (on Otterbien) made a mistake,” said Hartnett of his game-winning three ball. “They left me wide open and I was able to knock it down.” 

The Cardinals tried in vain to get a shot off, settling for a desperation heave at the buzzer by McCollister that drew iron but did not fall. 

“Mike is a clutch player and we trust his instincts,” said assistant coach Frank O'Brien. “He is one of those players that always has the green light no matter the situation.” 

John Carroll's top perimeter players (Shontz, Meyer and Michael Hartnett), all were able to use their speed and ability to drive the lane to overcome the Otterbein big-men. Meyer led not only that trio, but both teams with 26 points. He also had four assists, three rebounds, and one steal. 

“We were able to move the ball well all night,” said Meyer. “We did a great job splitting the defense and causing their big men to get into foul trouble.” 

Chris Davis, the two-time reigning OAC Player of the Week as well as Otterbein's tallest player, was in foul trouble for most of the night. Davis finally fouled out with 1:06 left in regulation, leaving him on the sideline during overtime. 

Shontz shot 7-15 from the field to tally 17 points while dishing out nine assists. 

Hester (17), Haynes (14) and Conor Tilow (12) also reached double figures for the John Carroll, which moved to 15-6 overall and 10-4 (T-2nd) in the OAC. 

Davis led Otterbein (10-11, 6-8 OAC) with 20 points, while Van Meter (18) Rausch 918) and Zach Bakenhaster (14) also contributed double-digit scoring nights to the cause.

In the end, the Blue Streaks showed why they are a team to be reckoned with in the OAC, as they were able to avenge a loss against an Otterbein team that got the best of them earlier in the season, defeating the Blue Streaks 86-83 in Westerville in December. 

“We battled all night long, everyone was playing well,” said Moran. “Guys stepped up to the plate and played about three inches taller and ten pounds bigger than they really are.”