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John Carroll University Athletics

home of the Blue Streaks
Luke Frazier hits a shot at BW
Sean Finucane
The Blue Streaks roared past Baldwin Wallace in OT after the hosts forced an extra period with a buzzer beater.
99
Winner John Carroll JCU 5-0,1-0 OAC
93
Baldwin Wallace BW 1-4,0-1 OAC
Winner
John Carroll JCU
5-0,1-0 OAC
99
Final
93
Baldwin Wallace BW
1-4,0-1 OAC
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 OT 1 F
John Carroll JCU 49 34 16 99
Baldwin Wallace BW 42 41 10 93

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | | Deuce Zak, Senior Staff Writer

Men's Basketball Staves Off Yellow Jackets to Start Off OAC Play 1-0

BEREA, Ohio -- What. A. Game. On a cold, snow-laden evening, the John Carroll Men's Basketball team opened up conference play in the OAC with a matinee matchup with the crosstown rival Yellow Jackets of Baldwin-Wallace. 

In what was a whirlwind contest with a boatload of scoring, The #3 team in the country survived a herculean effort from BW, getting an overtime win, 99-93.
    
The pace of play and intensity started from the tip in this one. Both teams quickly got off to hot starts to begin the game, with Luke Frazier and Will Yontek opening the scoring for the Blue Streaks. The home squad came out blazing from deep, hitting four triples, quickly gaining some separation from the Blue Streaks. 

For the early stages of the first half, Baldwin-Wallace maintained a lead, ranging in the low single-digits. The Blue Streaks briefly led, 18-17, but a 9-0 Yellow Jacket run quickly brought the lead back to 8. 

The lead persisted into the later stages of the frame, but the Blue and Gold went on a run of their own in the final seven minutes of the opening act. The Blue Streaks scored 19 points in the final seven minutes to 9 BW points, and the Blue Streaks went into the halftime break with a solid 7-point lead, with a blistering combined 91 points scored in the first half. 

The track meet continued into the second half for both teams. The Blue Streaks kept their foot on the gas in the second, scoring early and often thanks to the unending aggression of Luke Frazier, who finished with 26 points on the night. 

The visitors' lead ballooned to as much as 11, but the Yellow Jackets would always counter punch and bring the game back to within striking distance. The Blue Streaks had fits attempting to defend the persistent Baldwin-Wallace screening, and both teams went on long runs in the half. 

As the game went down to the wire, the home squad managed to inch closer and closer, going on mini-runs throughout, closing the gap from 11 to eight, eight to four, and four to two, coming all the way back to within a bucket at 83-81 with 40 seconds left. 

The Yellow Jackets got the ball back with 17 seconds remaining, and got a layup as time expired to tie the game at 83. The fans got treated to free basketball in Berea, as we headed to overtime. 

The Blue and Gold finally managed to wrestle control back from Baldwin Wallace in the extra period, but not without a fight. The Blue Streaks quickly jumped back out to a 5-point lead, and would not give it up for the rest of the five minute overtime. 

Chase Toppin hit a big three to start the frame, Luke Frazier continued to score at will, and Luka Eller got an offensive rebound off a free throw to get the lead to double digits in the final minute. 

Some mental mistakes from the Blue Streaks allowed the Yellow Jackets to claw back in it in the final seconds, and as they had done all game, they took the opportunity. However, it wasn't enough, as Baldwin-Wallace could only get to within three, and the Blue Streaks converted three free throws, and the Blue Streaks survived getting a gritty 99-93 win in a high scoring affair. 

Scoring came from everywhere for the Blue Streaks tonight. With 99 total points, six different JCU players were in double figures tonight, with Luke Frazier leading the team with 26 points, 11 boards, and 6 assists in one of his best games of the young season. Luke Chicone chipped in 16, Luka Eller had his best scoring night of the season with 12 massive points and four offensive rebounds, Will Yontek and Chase Toppin both added 11, and Yontek grabbed 8 boards. David Gentry also had a solid night, chipping in 10 points. 

The Blue Streaks have a short turnaround for their next contest, as the Polar Bears of Ohio Northern University will come into town this Saturday for the first home Men's Basketball game of the season. 
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