Junior Konnor Baker scores a team-high 16 to lead Men's Basketball in loss to No. 16 John Carroll

By Tim Glon

ADA — Junior Konnor Baker scored a team-high 16 points to lead Ohio Northern in an 86-68 men's basketball loss to No. 16-ranked John Carroll Saturday afternoon at the ONU Sports Center.

The Polar Bears fall to 4-3 overall and are 1-1 in Ohio Athletic Conference play, while the Blue Streaks improve to 7-0, 2-0.

Junior Aron Thress scored 15 points and junior Devon Allen added 12 points for Ohio Northern.

Freshman Ryan Bruns had four points and a game-high 10 rebounds for ONU.

JCU's Simon Kucharewicz led all scorers with 18 points.

The Blue Streaks used an early 8-0 run to go up 27-17 and extended that lead to as many as 49-22 before the Polar Bears rallied to within 49-30 at intermission.

Northern got within 51-35 with 17:50 to go on a basket by Baker, but would not get any closer as JCU went on to the win.

"John Carroll is a very good team and we did not play well today," ONU head coach Kevin Byrne said. "They make you play fast and we did not do that well. We did not shoot well and we made too many mistakes."

ONU made just 25-of-78 field goals for 32.1 percent and were 9-of-33 from beyond the 3-point arc for 27.3 percent.

JCU was 34-of-74 from the floor for 45.9 percent.

Ohio Northern out-rebounded John Carroll 52-50, but committed 23 turnovers to just 17 for JCU.

The Polar Bears will return to action on Wednesday when they host Mount Union at 7:30 pm at the ONU Sports Center.