Box Score It was a tough final minute in Alliance on Saturday.
 
In a key game with solo possession of second place in the OAC on the line, Mount Union came from behind to take the 95-92 decision over the John Carroll University men's basketball team.
 
John Carroll started strong racing out to a 17-7 lead less than five minutes into the contest. Will Starks played a key role in the strong start. Coming off of a career-best 21 points, the junior nailed back-to-back 3-pointers during the stretch to spark the Blue and Gold.
 
David Linane made it a 12-point game at 13:44 as the sophomore raced out to eight points over the first 10 minutes.
 
Mount Union utilized a 10-0 run to tie the game at 33 with 6:48 remaining in the opening stanza. A late 6-0 run from the Purple Raiders put Mount Union up 46-42 at the half.
 
John Carroll used a key 11-0 run in the second half to reclaim the lead. A 3-pointer from senior David Hendrickson made it a 49-48 John Carroll lead. The Blue Streaks received production from Dan Hennessey at the end of the run with four straight points.
 
Jarrett Ruffin made it a seven-point game with 9:17 remaining in the game. The 3-pointer from Ruffin capped a string of four trifectas for the Purple Raiders over a stretch of less than three minutes. John Carroll had held Mount Union to just 4-of-19 from behind the arc in the first half.
 
Two free throws from Linane pushed John Carroll's lead back to 12 with 6:26 remaining.
 
The lead would not hold. DeAllen Jackson sank the Purple Raiders' seventh 3-pointer of the second half to put Mount Union up 93-90 with 1:14 remaining. The basket capped a 7-0 run
 
A layup by a falling-down David Hendrickson made it a one-point game with 12 seconds remaining. Starks' deep 3-pointer to send the game into overtime was off the mark.
 
Linane led the Blue and Gold with 21 points and six assists. Hendrickson (16), Hollinger (15) and Starks (11) all joined the sophomore point guard in double figures. Hollinger would add 10 rebounds for his fourth double-double of the year.
 
John Carroll fell to 10-4, 6-2 OAC while Mount Union improved to 11-4, 7-1 OAC.
 
John Carroll returns home to host Baldwin Wallace at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 21. The game is "Be Like Mike" night so all fans are encouraged to wear dress shirts, ties, and sport coats.