A high-scoring affair saw John Carroll men's basketball battle late, but suffer a conference-opening loss.
John Carroll fell to the host Muskingum Fighting Muskies, 99-95, on Saturday afternoon from the Anne C. Steele Center.
With the loss, the program moves to 1-4, 0-1 OAC.
Highlighting each team's scoring onslaught was JCU's
Simon Kucharewicz (24 points),
Ryan Berger (21 points) and David Linane (15 points), and Muskingum's Jarrell Marsh (22 points), Marcus Dempsey (22 points) and Devon Peart (19 points).
The Fighting Muskies garnered the early advantage courtesy of their nine three-point field goals, three of which came from the hot hand of Peart off the bench. Head Coach Mike Moran and company were able to keep the Blue Streaks within striking distance with a 47.4% (18-for-38) field goal percentage and 12 points from Berger.
By trailing 52-41 at the intermission, the game would fall into the hands of the JCU defense to fend off the sharp-shooting prowess of Muskingum.
Kucharewicz proved he was up for the task by nearly accumulating a double-double in the second half alone with 16 points (7-for-9 shooting) and seven rebounds. Coupled with aggressiveness on the defensive end, the Blue and Gold appeared to be back in business by going on a 12-0 run to open the period and take a 53-52 advantage.
The squad's continued to exchange baskets and keep the game's margin within five points before Joshua Keys nailed a mid-range jump shot to bring the home lead to 72-65. John Carroll regained a three-point advantage before Marcus Dempsey found a touch from beyond the perimeter (1-for-1), from the field (2-for-2) and at the charity stripe (4-for-4) in the closing three minutes of the contest.
Jalen Paige and Dempsey sunk six of their six attempted free throws in the final minute of regulation to seal the deal.
JCU will head home for their third game of the campaign at the Tony DeCarlo Varsity Center. Opposing the Blue Streaks will be the Mount Union Purple Raiders on Wednesday at 7 p.m. from University Heights, Ohio.
