Mount Union Knocks Off Otterbein in Top-25 OAC Showdow
Mount Union won a pivotal matchup against Otterbein, securing their standing at the top of the OAC.
The Mount Union men’s basketball team won a top-25-ranked conference matchup against the Otterbein Cardinals, reclaiming the top spot in the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC). In a back-and-forth defensive battle, the Purple Raiders emerged victorious with a score of 74-69. Mount Union improved to 18-2 (9-2 OAC), while Otterbein dropped to 16-3 (8-2 OAC).
Otterbein controlled points off turnovers (12-7), second-chance points (17-6), and dominated bench points (33-11), showcasing their elite depth. However, the Purple Raiders ultimately emerged victorious. Both teams scored 34 points in the paint, but Mount Union’s shot-blocking secured their win, recording 11 blocks as a team. The record-breaking big man Shaun Vaden led with six blocks, showcasing his ability to guard positions 1 through 5, not only inside the paint but also on the perimeter.
Junior forward Elijah Farrington had an outstanding performance for the Purple Raiders, scoring 21 points and grabbing 15 rebounds. He shot an impressive 7 of 10 (70%) from the field and was perfect from beyond the arc, making 1 of 1 (100%) attempts. Sophomore guard Chance Casenhiser also contributed significantly, scoring 18 points while shooting 7 of 17 (41%) from the field and 2 of 5 (40%) from three-point range. Additionally, junior point guard Kevin Hamilton showcased his playmaking ability by recording a team-high six assists.
The Cardinals were led by senior center Troy Scowden, who scored a team-high 17 points and grabbed six rebounds, shooting 7 of 13 (54%) from the field. Senior guard Julian Heckman had an outstanding defensive performance, recording six steals. Heckman had an overall great performance, scoring 12 points, grabbing eight rebounds, and dishing out a smooth eight assists.
It was a back-and-forth contest as Mount Union led 35-33 at halftime. The Purple Raiders outscored the Cardinals 39-36 in the second half to secure a 74-69 victory.
Mount Union will travel to Berea on Wednesday to face the Baldwin Wallace Yellow Jackets in another OAC matchup.
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