Box Score

UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS, OHIO – The Otterbein University men’s basketball team (10-11, 6-8 OAC) came  up just short in a 99-96 overtime loss at John Carroll University Saturday evening.

John Carroll, which moves to 16-6 overall and 10-4 in the Ohio Athletic Conference, stood on top at 13-11 early on and then used a 12-2 run to push its margin to 25-13 by the 9:41 mark.

Otterbein would fight back to get within one, at 34-33, after a Max VanMeter layup, but the Streaks would counter and take a 41-34 lead into the half.

The Cards continued to hang around as the second half began, and eventually tied the game at 53-53 after a layup from junior Brice Rausch with 13:54 remaining in the game.

A Van Meter layup on the next offensive trip up the floor gave the team a 55-53 lead, and the Cardinals vaulted on top at 64-63 after freshman C.J. Julian connected on two free-throws with 9:47 to play.

The contest would then see ties of 66-66, 68-58, and 70-70 before John Carroll found some momentum to go ahead 76-70 with 6:10 showing on the game clock.

Zach Bakenhaster made a layup to pull Otterbein within 78-75 with 4:12 remaining, and then tied the game at 78-78 moments later on another layup.

Julian would draw the Cards even again, at 80-80, and Carroll would go back ahead 83-80 moments later.

Otterbein bounced back again, taking an 85-84 lead after Rausch split a pair of free throws with 42 seconds to go. Maurice Haynes then tied the game with 25 seconds left after splitting a pair from the line as well, and JCU came up empty in the final seconds en route to overtime.

The Blue Streaks scored the first seven points of overtime, but Otterbein, refusing to quit, rallied back to take a 96-95 lead on a bucket from freshman Matt McCollister with one minute remaining.

Michael Hartnett buried a three-pointer less than 20 seconds later to vault JCU back on top at 98-96, and the hosts would hold off Otterbein in the final seconds to preserve the victory.

Junior Chris Davis registered 20 points and a game-high 11 rebounds to lead Otterbein, while Van Meter and Rausch scored 19 and 18, respectively.

Bakenhaster chipped in 14 points and seven rebounds for the Cards, who .561 from the field and 28-of-41 from the free-throw line.

Joey Meyer scored a game-high 26 points to lead John Carroll.

The Cards return home to host cross-town rival Capital Wednesday evening at 7:30 p.m. The Crusaders handed Otterbein a 71-60 loss earlier this season in Bexley.