Oilers Hold Off Pioneers, Win 70-62
The University of Findlay men's basketball team claimed a 70-62 win over Malone University on Feb. 21 in Canton, Ohio. The victory gives the Oilers a 15-10 record on the season with a 12-9 mark in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC).
The Oilers fell behind by a score of 35-28 at the half and saw Malone extend their lead to 11 points at 50-39 with 12:36 to play. The Oilers then picked up their effort on the defensive end and went on a 14-0 run behind nine points from freshman forward Taren Sullivan and five points from junior guard Dylan Kaufman. The run put Findlay ahead by a score of 53-50 with 7:25 remaining.
After several lead changes, Malone took a 62-60 lead with 2:59 showing on the clock. Senior forward Jake Heagen then scored to tie the game before Kaufman scored four straight points to put Findlay up 66-62 with 1:17 remaining. Heagen then made 4-of-4 attempts from the free throw line down the stretch to give the Oilers the victory.
The Oilers, who made only 32.5 percent (11-of-34) of their field goal attempts in the first half, shot 57.1 percent (16-of-28) in the final period. They ended the game by connecting on 27-of-62 (43.5%) shot attempts, but made only 19 percent (4-of-21) of their three point tries. The Oilers defense also forced 17 turnovers and their offense took care of the ball, finishing with only seven turnovers in the game.
Heagen led five Oilers in double figures with 14 points and six rebounds while junior forward John Staley had 12 points and six boards.
Kaufman ended the game with 12 points while Sullivan came off the bench to provide 11 points on 5-of-8 shooting. Freshman guard Elijah Kahlig also reached double figures with ten points while sophomore guard Ricardo Smith had eight points, five rebounds, four assists and three steals.
The Pioneers were led by Jalen Miller and Brian Stone, who each scored 13 points apiece in the game.
The Oilers, who have qualified for the 2015 GLIAC Tournament, will now prepare for their final regular season game of the season next Thursday (2/26) against Wayne State University. The game, which will also be senior day for the Oilers, is scheduled to tip at 7:30 p.m. in Croy Gymnasium.