The momentum has swung in the John Carroll University men's basketball team's direction. 

A fast start by the Blue Streaks left the Fightin' Quakers of Wilmington trailing for all but 90 seconds in JCU's 89-72 win Saturday at the DeCarlo Varsity Center. JCU has won their last five contests, including the last three in Ohio Athletic Conference play.

"Anytime you can win an OAC game, it is huge," assistant coach Mike Moran said after the game. "We didn't start off well this year but we played quality opponents. We are starting to get things back together and get to our roots a little bit."

After trading shots for the first five minutes, the Blue and Gold went on their most important run of the game. JCU sparked a 16-2 run and took a 28-13 lead with just over eight minutes left in the first half.

Wilmington had little luck shooting in the first half, finishing 11-36 from the field. Meanwhile, the Blue Streaks hit nine three pointers, five of which came in the final eight minutes. During that time, JCU led by 22, their largest lead of the game.

"Offensively, we are shooting the ball well and creating some easy shots," said Moran.

Jackson Sartain shot the ball quite well in the first half, scoring 14 of his 19 points. He was 4-of-5 from three. 

"We are shocked when he shoots and it doesn't go in," said Moran. "What that does is create space for us. It opens up the driving lanes and those gaps that we hang our hat on. Whether he scores 19 or he scores 3, he is a threat because his ability to shoot the ball."

Despite being down, Wilmington did not go away. Over the final five minutes of the first half and into the first seven minutes of the second stanza, the Fightin' Quakers outscored the Blue Streaks 27-16. 

"Wilmington is a tremendous defensive team. Coach K.C. Hunt always has a great defensive team and they really got after us and got us out of our comfort zone," he said. "We have to learn to deal with those pressure situations and protect the ball."

The Berger brothers kept the Blue Streaks afloat in the second half. Jimmy Berger scored seven of his 10 points in the first two minutes of the second half. Ryan Berger registered 11 points of his game-high 21 points in the second stanza.

Jimmy Berger led the game with 12 rebounds, finishing with a 10-point, 12-board double-double. 

Sean Flannery led the Blue and Gold with seven assists and has led the team in that category in all but two of their wins this season. Flannery (12 points) also scored in double-figures for the fifth time this season. 

The Blue Streaks had five players record five rebounds or more, as JCU held a 45-40 advantage on the boards.

"We did a very good job rebounding. Coach always preaches to our young men that usually the team that wins the rebound battle in the OAC, wins games. That came through for us tonight," said Moran. 

Wilmington was held to below 40 percent shooting (28-75, .373) from the field, the second consecutive opponent in which the Blue Streak defense held an opponent below that plateau. When JCU holds an opponent under 44 percent shooting, the team record is 6-0.

Next on the slate for John Carroll is Heidelberg University on Wednesday for a 7 p.m. tip-off in Tiffin, Ohio.