UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS, Ohio – The Otterbein men's basketball team got back into the win column with a nice road effort Wednesday evening, emerging from the Tony DeCarlo Varsity Center with an 81-75 triumph over host John Carroll.

The Cardinals, improving to 10-3 on the season, held a double-digit lead in the closing minute before the pesky Blue Streaks netted six points in the final 30 seconds to shrink the final margin.

HOW IT PLAYED OUT:

• Both sides traded possessions in a first half that saw seven lead changes. JCU, playing without a few of its top scorers due to recent injuries and other setbacks, clung to a one-point lead with 5:44 remaining before intermission…
   
• The Cardinals closed strong and took a 32-29 lead into halftime, benefited by three-pointers from Jake Justice and Cam Evans in the sequence.
   
• Otterbein never trailed in the second half despite the contest remaining a 1-2 possession battle most of the frame.
   
• A 13-4 run around the midway portion thrusted the Cards ahead by 10, but JCU fought back and only trailed 70-67 with under four minutes on the clock.
   
• Otterbein kicked into gear once more, receiving a huge three-pointer from Brennan Rains (back near his hometown) on the next possession to find a bit more breathing room.
   
• The Cardinals then manufactured a few defensive stops, and went a perfect 6 for 6 at the line to preserve the W.

 
STATS ON STATS:

• Otterbein had another balanced effort, seeing five players score nine-plus points. Justice and Rains both led the way at 14.
   
• Justin Carter narrowly missed a double-double with a solid 12-9-5 game, which included a career-best 12 boards. The Cards held a 39-29 rebounding edge overall.
   
• John Carroll went 23 of 30 at the free-throw line, but weren't very effective beyond the arc in shooting just 4 of 19. Five players did reach double figures on the home side.
   
• Otterbein tied a season-high with 11 makes from three-point range, matching the output from earlier this season against Denison.

 
UP NEXT:

Otterbein will be right back on the road in northeast Ohio, traveling to Alliance come Saturday afternoon for a matchup with No. 14-ranked Mount Union.