Oilers Hang On For 67-65 Win At Walsh
The University of Findlay men's basketball team gutted out a 67-65 win over Walsh University on Thursday, Jan. 24 in North Canton, Ohio.
The Oilers, who improved to 12-5 on the year with a 9-4 mark in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC), built an 11-point lead in the first half and eventually entered the break up seven at 40-33. The Cavaliers quickly erased Findlay's lead in the second half and gained a six-point advantage before the Oilers regained control late in the period.
Tied at 60-60 with 3:27 to play, senior forward Jack Smith drove the lane and banked in a shot to give the Oilers a two-point lead. After a bucket by the Cavaliers, Smith hit a long three pointer from the top of the key to make the score 65-62 in favor of the Oilers with 2:23 remaining.
Hanging on with a three-point lead, Walsh's Kenny Kornowski went to the line for two, but missed both attempts. The Oilers were unable to gather in the defensive rebound on the second miss however which led to a three-point play by Walsh's Jeff Copeland.
With the game tied at 65-65, freshman guard Alphonso Baity drove down the lane and converted a layup to give Findlay a two-point advantage with only 21 seconds remaining in the game. An offensive foul on the Cavaliers gave the ball back to Findlay and the Oilers looked to close the game out at the free throw line. Senior guard Aaron Robinson missed the front end of a one-and-one with nine ticks left though, but the Cavaliers were unable to convert on the other end as the Oilers claimed the victory.
Senior forward Brad Piehl led the team with 16 points and six rebounds while sophomore forward Jake Heagen stuffed the stat sheet with 11 points, eight rebounds and five assists.
Junior forward Greg Kahlig added 11 points and five rebounds while Robinson and Smith contributed eight points apiece.
The Oilers shot 46.4 percent (26-of-56) from the floor and forced 17 turnovers in the game.
The Cavaliers, who were led by Copeland's game-high 18 points, shot 54.2 percent (26-of-48) from the field.
The Oilers will return home to face Malone University on Saturday at 2 p.m. in Croy Gymnasium.