Men's Basketball opens 2019-20 season with 82-73 victory at Mount Saint Joseph
By Tim Glon
CINCINNATI — The Ohio Northern men's basketball team opened its 2019-20 season under fourth-year head coach Rich Bensman with a 82-73 victory at Mount Saint Joseph on Friday night at the Mount Saint Joseph Tip-Off Classic at the Harrington Center.
The Polar Bears (1-0 overall) got 22 points from sophomore Brandon Waugh (Columbus/Northland) and 19 points and nine rebounds from freshman C.J. Napier (Miamisburg/Bishop Fenwick) in the victory.
Junior Thomas Phillips (Kenton) added 12 points and senior Austin Allemeier (Lima/Elida) chipped in 10 for the victors.
The Lions (0-1) were led by Devin Long with 24 points and Tanner Clos with 22 points.
Northern trailed 57-44 with 13:16 left in the game, but went on a 19-2 run to go ahead 63-59 on a layup by freshman Michael Berner (Springboro) with 7:53 to go in the game.
MSJ pulled within 68-67 with 4:40 to go, but a basket by freshman Landen Long (Mason) and a 3-pointer by Allemeier extended the ONU advantage to 73-67 with 3:30 left.
A 3-pointer by Napier gave ONU a 78-69 lead with 1:44 left. Two free throws by Waugh made it 80-71 with 1:08 left and a 3 by Waugh iced the game at 82-71 with 30 seconds left.
Ohio Northern made 33-of-71 field goals for 46.5 percent and were 8-of-26 from 3-point range for 30.8 percent, while MSJ was 25-of-59 from the floor for 42.4 percent and were 5-of-25 from 3 for 20.0 percent.
ONU enjoyed an impressive 46-25 advantage on the glass, which included 21 offensive rebounds on only 38 missed shots.
The Polar Bears will wrap up play at the MSJ Tip-Off Classic with a 3 pm contest against Transylvania (Ky.) on Saturday at the Harrington Center.