An explosive final 20 minutes lifted the John Carroll men's basketball team at the DeCarlo Varsity Center as they defeated Muskingum on Saturday afternoon.

The Blue Streaks have won nine of 10 overall. John Carroll improves to 12-6 and 9-3 in the Ohio Athletic Conference, and Muskingum falls to 11-8 and 5-7 in the OAC.

David Linane, Jr. led the Blue Streaks with 14 points; the senior was recognized in pre-game for breaking the program's all-time assist record. Doug Caputo (12), Simon Kucharewicz (12), Ryan Berger (11), Brian Papich (11) and John Cirillo (10) each recorded double-figures in scoring.

John Carroll started hot, but eventually cooled off as the half went on. The Blue Streaks were led by Ryan Berger and Brian Papich, who each had seven points after the first 20 minutes.

Muskingum started slow but worked their way back into the game with Marcus Dempsey and Rickey Wilson combining for 24 first half points. After trailing by as much as eleven, the Fighting Muskies fought their way back to take a 39-38 lead into the break.

After the Muskies extended their lead to seven, the Blue Streaks went on a ten-point run to regain the lead with 13:37 to go in regulation and never looked back. Simon Kucharewicz was dominant in the second half, adding 10 points after only two in the first half.

Dempsey and Wilson scored 19 and 16 respectively, but were no match for the Blue Streaks who outrebounded the Muskies 39 to 30.

The offense was run through the post as the Blue Streaks' bigs played a huge factor in the second half. John Carroll had six players in double figures and held Muskingum to just 36 percent shooting and 13 percent from beyond the arc after they shot 46 percent in the first half and 50 percent from three-point range.

John Carroll keeps pace near the top of the OAC as the stretch run begins.

The Blue Streaks take on the Otterbein Cardinals at the DeCarlo Varsity Center on Wednesday, Feb 1.