COLUMBUS – The Capital University men's basketball team fought through a double-digit deficit Saturday on its way to a 75-69 victory over Mount Union in an Ohio Athletic Conference game at the Capital Center.
Five players scored nine or more points for the Crusaders (4-4 overall, 2-2 OAC). Junior Spencer Niekamp put Capital ahead for good with a tie-breaking 3-pointer with 45 seconds to play in the contest.
Niekamp (St. Henry, Ohio) totaled a team-high 15 points, while senior Kelly Winter (Dublin, Ohio) posted 13 points on 9-of-10 shooting from the free throw line to go along with a team-best six rebounds. The Crusaders limited the Purple Raiders (3-5, 0-3) to 37 percent shooting in the second half after allowing 41 first-half points.
"Spencer and Kelly really stepped up for us and made a couple of big shots," Capital coach Damon Goodwin said. "Kelly hit some free throws and Spencer hit some 3-pointers, but defensively, in the second half, we were really solid."
After Capital took a 56-55 advantage with 7:20 to play on a layup by Niekamp, the two teams exchanged a bevy of big shots down the stretch. The Crusaders pulled away following Niekamp's last 3-pointer, converting 3-of-4 from the free throw line in the final 30 seconds.
"We've been practicing boxing out, because that's been killing us these past couple games," said junior Mitch Westerheide, who recorded 12 points and four assists off the bench. "Once we got a hand in the shooter's face and boxed out, that helped us out a lot."
In the first half, Mount Union jumped out to a 29-19 lead just over midway through the period thanks in large part to 3-pointers and free throws. The Purple Raiders converted 13-of-13 from the free throw line and made four 3-pointers in the period.
Junior Tim Congrove (Circleville, Ohio; at right), who ended up with nine points, knocked down a pair of 3-pointers off the bench in the first half to help Capital stay in the game.
"Spencer didn't have a great first half, so we got him more shots the second time around," Goodwin said. "Kelly became a little more aggressive (in the second half), but Tim Congrove was big for us in the first half. Without him, we're really in trouble."
In the second, the Crusaders asserted themselves defensively, holding Mount Union leading scorer Jimmy Wood to just five points after he scored 14 in the first. Capital also shot 16-of-21 at the free throw line in the frame.
For the game, the Crusaders' bench outscored the Purple Raider reserves 30-19. Capital also finished with seven blocked shots, including two by junior Michael Sommer (Celina, Ohio), who also had 12 points.
The Crusaders head to the Buffalo State (N.Y.) Coles Classic next Friday and Saturday, Dec. 16-17, to close out play for the calendar year. Capital takes on Morrisville State on Friday at 6 p.m. before playing either No. 14 Buffalo State or Keuka on Saturday afternoon.
"It's all about the team coming together and doing the little things right," Westerheide said. "If we do that, I think we'll be alright."
Five players scored nine or more points for the Crusaders (4-4 overall, 2-2 OAC). Junior Spencer Niekamp put Capital ahead for good with a tie-breaking 3-pointer with 45 seconds to play in the contest.
Niekamp (St. Henry, Ohio) totaled a team-high 15 points, while senior Kelly Winter (Dublin, Ohio) posted 13 points on 9-of-10 shooting from the free throw line to go along with a team-best six rebounds. The Crusaders limited the Purple Raiders (3-5, 0-3) to 37 percent shooting in the second half after allowing 41 first-half points.
"Spencer and Kelly really stepped up for us and made a couple of big shots," Capital coach Damon Goodwin said. "Kelly hit some free throws and Spencer hit some 3-pointers, but defensively, in the second half, we were really solid."
After Capital took a 56-55 advantage with 7:20 to play on a layup by Niekamp, the two teams exchanged a bevy of big shots down the stretch. The Crusaders pulled away following Niekamp's last 3-pointer, converting 3-of-4 from the free throw line in the final 30 seconds.
"We've been practicing boxing out, because that's been killing us these past couple games," said junior Mitch Westerheide, who recorded 12 points and four assists off the bench. "Once we got a hand in the shooter's face and boxed out, that helped us out a lot."
In the first half, Mount Union jumped out to a 29-19 lead just over midway through the period thanks in large part to 3-pointers and free throws. The Purple Raiders converted 13-of-13 from the free throw line and made four 3-pointers in the period.
Junior Tim Congrove (Circleville, Ohio; at right), who ended up with nine points, knocked down a pair of 3-pointers off the bench in the first half to help Capital stay in the game.
"Spencer didn't have a great first half, so we got him more shots the second time around," Goodwin said. "Kelly became a little more aggressive (in the second half), but Tim Congrove was big for us in the first half. Without him, we're really in trouble."
In the second, the Crusaders asserted themselves defensively, holding Mount Union leading scorer Jimmy Wood to just five points after he scored 14 in the first. Capital also shot 16-of-21 at the free throw line in the frame.
For the game, the Crusaders' bench outscored the Purple Raider reserves 30-19. Capital also finished with seven blocked shots, including two by junior Michael Sommer (Celina, Ohio), who also had 12 points.
The Crusaders head to the Buffalo State (N.Y.) Coles Classic next Friday and Saturday, Dec. 16-17, to close out play for the calendar year. Capital takes on Morrisville State on Friday at 6 p.m. before playing either No. 14 Buffalo State or Keuka on Saturday afternoon.
"It's all about the team coming together and doing the little things right," Westerheide said. "If we do that, I think we'll be alright."
