Box Score

ALLIANCE, Ohio – Otterbein University's quest for an upset bid fizzled down the stretch Saturday at the University of Mount Union, as the Purple Raiders broke open the game late en route to an 85-64 win.

Mount Union (12-5, 8-2 OAC) took a 10-1 lead to open the game, but the Cardinals settled in to erase the deficit with an impressive 25-6 run, seizing a double-digit advantage. The Raiders regrouped shortly after, closing the final four-plus minutes on a 15-2 spurt to enter halftime with a 35-31 edge.

Otterbein (3-14, 2-8 OAC) tied the contest at 39-39 just a few minutes into the second half, but the host Raiders countered with a 12-0 run spanning the next three-plus minutes to take a double-digit cushion.

The feisty Cardinals would not go away, refusing to let Mount Union pull away easily and eventually getting the deficit back down to only four, 60-56, with 7:39 remaining. A veteran Purple Raider squad would ultimately be too much, out-scoring Otterbein 17-7 over the next five minutes and closing strong.

Sophomores Jake Phillis and Bryan Mackenzie paced the Cardinal offense throughout, finishing with 13 and 10 points, respectively. Marc McCuen posted eight points while Darrell Miller III, returning after a four-game absence, also recorded eight.

DeAllen Jackson led Mount Union with game-highs of 20 points and eight assists, while center Jarrett Ruffin and swingman Stevie Griffin went for 17 and 11, respectively.

Mount Union finished with a blistering .608 percentage from the field, which included a 12-of-24 effort from three-point range and making all but two free throws. Otterbein shot 49 percent on the day, but were out-rebounded by nine and saw the Raiders post a 23-13 edge in points off turnovers.

Otterbein will be back in action Wednesday evening, hosting Ohio Northern University at 7:30 p.m. inside the Rike Center.