Second Half Run Not Enough | Oilers Lose on the Road
Cedarville, Ohio – The University of Findlay men's basketball team got the 2023 calendar year off and running with a road game against Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) foe, the Cedarville Yellow Jackets on Saturday, Jan. 7. Cedarville lead for 83% of the game, ultimately handing Findlay an 85-72 loss which drops the Oilers to 8-6 on the year with a 3-3 mark in conference play. The Yellow Jackets improve to 11-4 and 4-3 with the victory.
Cedarville controlled the pace much of the first half, using seven made threes to build a 42-33 lead at the half. A quick basket out of the half made it an 11-point lead for the home team at 44-33.
Over the next ten minutes, Findlay clawed their way back. Freshman Max Roth, who did not score in the first half, turned it loose, scoring 13 points in the first ten minutes of the half, helping get the Oilers back into the game. A four-point play by senior Joey Edmonds at the ten-minute mark tied the game at 62, the first time the game had been tied since the 12:16 mark in the first half.
Cedarville had the answer to Findlay's run as the Yellow Jackets went on a barrage of their own, scoring the next ten points of the game to regain control at 72-62 with seven minutes to play.
That was all the distance the home team needed as they would keep the Orange and Black at arm's length for the remainder of the game as their lead reached single digits only twice over the final stretch.
The Yellow Jackets shot it well, hitting 32-of-58 (.552) from the field including 12-of-26 (.462) from deep. They also held a big advantage on the glass, outrebounding Findlay 36-to-24. Findlay made 24-of-57 (.421) and improved on their league-leading assault from deep, hitting 9-of-18 (.500) from three-point range.
Roth would finish the game as the leading scorer, scoring all of his career-high 17 points in the final 20 minutes of play. He made 6-of-8 from the floor including a pair of threes. He also grabbed three rebounds and had an assist and a steal.
Senior Nathan Bruns made six field goals on his way to a 16-point night. He was a perfect 3-for-3 from deep and, for the first time in his standout career, did not record a rebound. Fellow senior Joey Edmonds scored 11, grabbed four rebounds, and had two steals.
Senior guard Eisley Swaine was the leading rebounder for Findlay as he corralled six boards, all defensive. He also scored four points and had a pair of assists.
Senior Deven Stover scored eight points on the strength of a 6-of-7 performance from the charity stripe. He added three rebounds, an assists, a steal, and a block.
The night belonged to Cedarville forward Jacob Drees who turned in a career-performance, recording a triple double with 20 points, 12 rebounds, and 11 assists. Guard Jayvon Maughmer led all scorers with 21.
Findlay returns home with back-to-back games in Croy next week as they welcome Kentucky Wesleyan on Thursday, Jan. 12 and then bring in Trevecca Nazarene on Saturday, Jan. 14. Tip off is set for 7:30 pm and 3:00 pm, respectively.