PHOTO GALLERY
WESTERVILLE, Ohio – A late run to end the first half by Mount Union ended up being crucial in Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) men's basketball action Saturday afternoon, as the Purple Raiders ultimately emerged with a 79-67 victory against Otterbein inside the Rike Center.
Mount Union, regular season co-champions and OAC Tournament runner-ups a year ago, improve to 12-3 on the year and 7-1 against the league. Otterbein now drops to 4-11 this season.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Mount Union opened a 5-0 lead and led a 1-2 possession game early on, but Otterbein eventually drew even, 20-20, following a jumper from Reid Black in the paint at the 8:26 mark.
- Otterbein later took a 26-22 lead after back-to-back three pointers from Mo Beavers and Kobe Long-Weber, forcing a Purple Raider timeout. The Cards then led 31-28 with just 90 seconds to go before intermission.
- Mount Union would deliver a difference making 9-0 run to end the half, culminating when Tanner Slack nailed a running, off-balanced, buzzer-beating three pointer that banked in and stole momentum at the break.
- Mount turned that into a double-digit lead by the 13:09 mark of the second period, although Otterbein didn't go anywhere quietly and only trailed 54-47 with 8:53 to go.
- The Raiders kicked into gear behind big man and Toledo transfer Logan Hill, who pounded consecutive put-back dunks during a flurry that extended the visitor lead to as many as 21.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:
- Collen Gurley scored a game-high 18 to lead five Mount Union players in double figures. Hill had 10 points and a game-best 14 rebounds as the Purple Raiders posted a 39-25 edge on the glass.
- Mo Beavers scored 17 for Otterbein while Dallas Patrick had 15 himself. Black contributed 10 points and a team-high seven boards.
- Mount Union was 14 of 15 (.933) from the free-throw line while Otterbein finished at 12 of 18. Both sides combined to go 14 of 47 beyond the arc.
- 72 total points were scored in the paint while the Raiders posted a 34-21 edge in bench scoring.
UP NEXT:
Otterbein travels to Ohio Northern come Wednesday night to complete the first half of the OAC round-robin schedule. Game time in Ada is scheduled for 7 p.m.
