Napier scores 18 as Men's Basketball gives valient effort, falls late to #20 Mount Union 75-63
By Tim Glon
ADA — Freshman C.J. Napier (Miamisburg/Bishop Fenwick) scored 18 points, but No. 20-ranked Mount Union pulled away late to down Ohio Northern 75-63 in an Ohio Athletic Conference men's basketball game on Saturday afternoon at the ONU Sports Center.
The Polar Bears (6-13 overall, 2-10 OAC) also got 11 points from sophomore Brandon Waugh (Columbus/Northland).
The Purple Raiders (16-3, 11-1) had four players in double figures in scoring, led by Collen Gurley with 21 and Nathan Bower-Malone with 20.
Trailing 47-36 early in the second half, Ohio Northern rallied to tie the game at 55-all with 6:54 to play on a 3-point play by senior Caleb Bryan (Pittsburgh, Pa./Montour).
But Mount Union scored the game's next eight points to take a 63-55 advantage with 4:09 left and held on for the win.
ONU finished the game 25-of-61 from the floor for 41.0% and was 3-of-16 from three-point range for 18.8%. MtU was 30-of-60 from the field for 47.6% and was 5-of-23 from three for 21.7%.
Mount Union out-rebounded Ohio Northern 45-30.
The Polar Bears will take to the road on Wednesday with a 3 p.m. contest at Baldwin Wallace.
