THE BASICS
Score: #RV Madonna 85, University of Northwestern Ohio 76
Record: MU (14-6, 7-3 WHAC),  UNOH (5-15, 1-9 WHAC)
Location: The Garage - Lima, Ohio

---

LIMA, Ohio – In a game that saw six ties and five lead changes, the Madonna University men's basketball team, which received votes in the NAIA Coaches' Top 25 Poll for the second straight week, used a 12-2 run midway through the second half for a third straight win, 85-76 over University of Northwestern Ohio on Wednesday night.

After three ties early, the Crusaders took control in the final 10 minutes of the first half and took a half-high six-point, 37-31,  lead with 2:59 to go in the opening stanza on a Mark Mettie jumper. A jumper by the home team cut the advantage to four, 39-35, at the break.

The Racers began the second half on a 10-2 run to take a 45-41 lead early in the second half. Madonna responded with a 10-0 run of their own as Jonathan Swift netted seven points in the run. UNOH was able to to cut the lead to two, 60-58, with 9:44 to play, but that's when MU went on a 12-2 run to take a lead they didn't relinquish. Madonna got contributions from Dwight Burton, Mettie, Joshua Reynolds and Malik Eichler in the run. The Racers cut the lead to five with less than two minutes to play, but Mettie, Reynolds and Swift combined to go 6-for-6 at the charity stripe in the final minutes to seal the win.

TURNING POINT

• A 12-2 Madonna run over 4:40 in the second half that turned a two-point game into a 12-point lead for MU.

INDIVIDUAL LEADERS

• Four players finished in double figures, led by Burton's 20 points and eight rebounds. Mettie added 17 and grabbed 10 rebounds for his first career double-double and second straight game with 10+ rebounds. Swift tallied 16 points while Reynolds added 15 points and seven rebounds.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• The Crusaders committed just nine turnovers in the win, just the second time this season the team has committed less than 10.
• The nine-point win is the third time Madonna has won by such a margin
• The Blue and Gold converted 22 free throws to UNOH's 19, it's the 15th time this season MU has converted more free throws than their opponent...The Crusaders are 14-1 in such contests

UP NEXT

• The Crusaders return home for a Saturday afternoon showdown with Siena Heights University on January 12 at 3 p.m.
• Live coverage will be available via the Madonna Athletics Network at www.mucrusaders.com/live.

CONNECT WITH THE CRUSADERS: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube
SUBSCRIBE/DOWNLOAD TEAM SCHEDULES: Download Center