John Carroll JCU 12-2,6-1 OAC

Otterbein OTT 9-5,3-4 OAC

John Carroll JCU

12-2,6-1 OAC

Final

Jan. 11, 2023

Otterbein OTT

9-5,3-4 OAC

Score By Periods
Team	1	2	F
John Carroll JCU	38	51	89
Otterbein OTT	33	35	68

Summary
Box Score

Jerry Higgins III poured in 25 points off the bench in the win.

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | 1/11/2023 9:43:00 PM | Deuce Zak, Staff Writer (photo by Roger Howard)

Guided by Jerry Higgins III, Men's Basketball Fires Past Cards in Westerville

WESTERVILLE, Ohio -- The John Carroll Blue Streaks Men's Basketball team traveled to Westerville on Wednesday for a midweek duel with the Cardinals of Otterbein University. While the visitors had a slow start, a second-half explosion led by Jerry Higgins III had the Blue Streaks flying past Otterbein by a final score of 89-68.

With the win, the Blue Streaks improve to 12-2 on the season, including 6-1 in Ohio Athletic Conference play, remaining in a three-way tie atop the league.

Despite the final score, JCU started slow initially in the first. Both teams were trading buckets and stops in the opening frame, with neither team really creating any separation. Otterbein had been up by as much as 4, at 28-24 around midway through the first half, but the visitors from University Heights got a spark at the end of the half, ending it on a 14-5 run, with efforts from all over.

The Blue Streaks notched nice defensive stops and took advantage of space on transition buckets. Going into the locker room at the half, the Blue Streaks held onto a 38-33 lead.

Much like the second half, the defensive intensity from JCU was at a high level, the team taking off much like a nocturnal bat or owl. The Cardinals continued to hang around early in the second half, but a slew of turnovers and shot-making by the Blue Streaks ballooned a 7 point 49-42 lead into a 69-46 advantage, and John Carroll never looked back.

Jerry Higgins III exploded in the second, scoring the bulk of his 25 points in the final period. The defensive intensity that this Blue & Gold team has showcased in so many games earlier in the season returned tonight, with a renewed level of energy coming out of a string of close and gritty games.

A plethora of Blue Streaks forced turnovers in the second half, including David Gentry stealing a high post entry for a breakaway slam to Higgins picking a Cardinal guard's pocket for an easy layup, the #10 team in the country got their mojo back.

With that ferocious second half effort, JCU managed to pick up yet another huge road victory, besting Otterbein 89-68.
It was a team effort both on the court and on the stat sheet from the Blue Streaks. Higgins topped all scores with 25 on the night, hitting 10-of-13 from the field and 5-of-7 from downtown. Three other players were in the double figures on the evening, as Luke Frazier and Chase Toppin both put up 14, and Luke Chicone chipped in 12. Henry Raynor had 9 points, and Eric Hanna hit 2 triples for 6 points.

After a near month-long slump from deep, the Blue Streaks found their rhythm from distance once again, hitting 12-of-21 from beyond the arc, an incredible turnaround from recent contests.

The incredible shot making that has won this team so many games returned tonight, and just when the Blue Streaks needed it. John Carroll heads into a 2-game homestand, with matchups against Wilmington this Saturday and Baldwin Wallace next Wednesday.

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