The Capital University men's basketball team nearly knocked off a talented John Carroll team Saturday, but suffered its first Ohio Athletic Conference defeat by a 75-64 margin in University Heights, Ohio.
The Crusaders (3-3 overall, 1-1 OAC) led at halftime and for the first 10 minutes of the second half before the Blue Streaks took control with an 11-0 run midway through the second half and hung on for the win.
Junior Michael Sommer (Celina, Ohio; at right) finished with 18 points and eight rebounds off the bench to lead Capital, which held John Carroll (4-1, 1-0) to 31.3 percent shooting in the first half before the Blue Streaks erupted for a 58.3 percent clip in the second.
Junior Mitch Westerheide (Ft. Loramie, Ohio) added a season-high 15 points, while senior Kelly Winter (Dublin, Ohio) contributed with 10 points.
The two teams battled back and forth through the first 14 minutes of the game before Sommer knocked down back-to-back 3-pointers to give the Crusaders a 26-20 lead at the 4:52 mark. After John Carroll took a one-point lead, consecutive layups by Westerheide and sophomore Ben Danhoff (Clyde, Ohio) allowed Capital to head to the locker room with a 31-28 advantage.
After a pair of free throws by Winter gave the Crusaders a 47-41 lead with 10:35 remaining in the second half, the Blue Streaks scored on five straight possessions, taking advantage of four Capital turnovers over that span, to take a 52-47 lead with just over eight minutes left to play.
The Crusaders tied the game at 60-60 on another 3-pointer by Sommer with 3:44 on the clock, but an 8-0 JCU run over the next minute allowed the Blue Streaks to regain control of the contest.
Capital shot 50 percent for the game, including 52 percent in the opening period, but was derailed by 25 turnovers.
The Crusaders look to get back on the winning track this Thursday at home against Wilmington. Tip-off at the Capital Center is slated for 7 p.m.
The Crusaders (3-3 overall, 1-1 OAC) led at halftime and for the first 10 minutes of the second half before the Blue Streaks took control with an 11-0 run midway through the second half and hung on for the win.
Junior Michael Sommer (Celina, Ohio; at right) finished with 18 points and eight rebounds off the bench to lead Capital, which held John Carroll (4-1, 1-0) to 31.3 percent shooting in the first half before the Blue Streaks erupted for a 58.3 percent clip in the second.
Junior Mitch Westerheide (Ft. Loramie, Ohio) added a season-high 15 points, while senior Kelly Winter (Dublin, Ohio) contributed with 10 points.
The two teams battled back and forth through the first 14 minutes of the game before Sommer knocked down back-to-back 3-pointers to give the Crusaders a 26-20 lead at the 4:52 mark. After John Carroll took a one-point lead, consecutive layups by Westerheide and sophomore Ben Danhoff (Clyde, Ohio) allowed Capital to head to the locker room with a 31-28 advantage.
After a pair of free throws by Winter gave the Crusaders a 47-41 lead with 10:35 remaining in the second half, the Blue Streaks scored on five straight possessions, taking advantage of four Capital turnovers over that span, to take a 52-47 lead with just over eight minutes left to play.
The Crusaders tied the game at 60-60 on another 3-pointer by Sommer with 3:44 on the clock, but an 8-0 JCU run over the next minute allowed the Blue Streaks to regain control of the contest.
Capital shot 50 percent for the game, including 52 percent in the opening period, but was derailed by 25 turnovers.
The Crusaders look to get back on the winning track this Thursday at home against Wilmington. Tip-off at the Capital Center is slated for 7 p.m.
