Men's Basketball Races Past UNOH for Third Straight Win

(Lima, OH)-- The Cleary Cougar men's basketball continued to play well, as they went on the road to take down the Northwestern Ohio Racers 80-71 Saturday afternoon in Lima.

Chris Williams scored the game's first points, and would hit a three a few possessions later to give the Cougars an early 5-2 lead.  UNOH would tie the game, beginning a back and forth affair for the remainder of the first half.  Cleary held an 8-5 lead, but the Racers would score four unanswered points to take the lead.  Cleary answered, but the Racers would respond and held a 17-14 lead with just over eleven minutes to play.  The Cougars went on a run to retake the lead, but UNOH answered once again, and led 26-22 with just over five minutes to play.  The Cougars got crucial points, and would tie the game at 28-28, and held a 30-28 lead after Bennie Crenshaw Jr. hit a jumper.  The Racers knocked down a three, but Nick Moore would hit a corner three of his own with thirty seconds remaining in the half, giving Cleary a 33-31 lead at the break.

UNOH would tie the game on their first second half possession, but Tyree Jones scored eight of the Cougars' first twelve second half points to help give Cleary a cushion.  After a Chris Williams layup the lead would grow to seven points in favor of the Cougars.  The Racers chipped away, but an AJ Hess layup and and-one free throw made the score 49-41.  Two minutes later, the lead had grown to double-digits, after Bennie Crenshaw Jr. scored a layup.  The Racers would once again make a push, cutting the lead to six points, but Cleary had a response for each play, and a pair of Jaylen Cole-Williams free throws once again gave the Cougars a double-digit lead with seven minutes to go in the game.  UNOH cut the lead to seven points, and it looked as though they were primed for a run to make the game close.  AJ Hess had something to say about, as he knocked down a three with 4:42 to play, once again giving Cleary a ten point advantage.  The Racers were forced to press, but the Cougars broke the press, and made their free throws down the stretch to earn the victory.

Chris Williams had a game high 19 points to go with 10 rebounds for a double-double.  Jacob Mueller continued to play well, scoring 16 points (8 from the free throw line) and grabbed 5 rebounds.  Bennie Crenshaw Jr. had 13 points and 6 rebounds, while Tyree Jones had a double-double of his own with 11 points and 11 rebounds.

The Cougars were also stellar on defense, holding the WHAC's third leading scorer to only ten points, nearly half of his season average.  They also forced 20 Racer turnovers, and held UNOH to 37% shooting from the floor.

The win gives the Cougars a 6-12 record, and 5-7 within the WHAC.  The Cougars will be back at Gannon Gym on Monday, January 27, when they host the Lourdes Gray Wolves in a makeup game originally scheduled for January 8.  The game is set to begin at 5:00 PM.