ONU Drops Overtime Thriller, 110-107

BOURBONNAIS, Ill. – The Olivet Nazarene University men's basketball team returned to the hardwood in its first game since October 27 and fell in an overtime thriller, 110-107, against the University of Saint Francis (Ind.) Cougars inside McHie Arena on Wednesday night.

At the beginning of the first half, The Cougars scored 13 of the first 19 points until senior Gavin Griggs (SR/Middletown, Ind.) made a layup making the score 13-8. At 18-10, the Tigers close the gap to 18-17 after freshman Tyler Schmidt (FR/Valparaiso, Ind. ) and junior Cade Chitty (JR/White Heath, Ill.) hit jumpers, while senior John Contant (SR/Hickory Hills, Ill.) knocked down a three. After the Cougars scored the next five points, the Tigers scored seven straight points, highlighted by a three-pointer by Contant, to take a slim 24-23 lead.

After a Cougar layup making the score 34-32, the Tigers marked three free throws and a layup to grow their lead to 39-34. The Tigers would only mark four more points the entire half and trailed 44-43 going into the half. Chitty led the Tigers with 13 points while junior Alex Gross (JR/Hope, Ind.) followed with 11 and Contant contributed 10 points.

Halftime: No. 20 University of Saint Francis (Ind.) 44, Olivet Nazarene 43

After the Cougars outscored the Tigers five to four at the beginning of the second half, Gross marked six of the next eight points. The Tigers led 53-51. After the Cougars marked a three, freshman Landon Pflederer (FR/Tremont, Ill.) notched two-straight threes and the Tigers took a 61-56 lead. After the Cougars inch within one of the Tigers, senior CJ Smith (SR/Cumming, Ga.) hit a three and Gross tallied a layup extending the lead back to six at 66-60. At the score 75-70, Gross and Contant combined for the next five points growing the lead to 10 at 80-70.

With under two minutes left, at the score 90-82, the Cougars made three straight three-pointers to cut the Tiger lead to 90-88. With 40 seconds left, Saint Francis made a free throw to cut the lead to 90-89. After Smith made a free throw with 20 ticks left, David Ejah of Saint Francis made a layup with six seconds left to force overtime.

End of Regulation: No. 20 University of Saint Francis 91, Olivet Nazarene 91

In the extra session, The Cougars scored the first four points until Gross converted an and-one opportunity pulling the Tigers within one at 95-94. After Saint Francis made a layup, Schmidt made a ,clutch, three making the score even at 97. The Tigers then found themselves down 104-97 after the Cougars made consecutive threes.

The Tigers came within three, two different times in the final five seconds, but fell in overtime, 110-107

Final/OT: No. 20 University of Saint Francis 110, Olivet Nazarene 107

GAME VITALS

Score: No. 20 University of Saint Francis 110 | Olivet Nazarene 107

Records: Olivet Nazarene – 0-2 | No. 20 University of Saint Francis- 13-1 (1-1 CL)

Location: Olivet Nazarene University | Bourbonnais, Ill. | McHie Arena

Quick Hits

• The last time the Tigers hit 100 points was against Saint Ambrose University on February 12, 2020, when they scored 107.
• Contant led all scorers with a career-high 30 points.
• Gross grabbed his second double-double of the season finishing with 26 points and 17 boards. Gross also accumulated nine assists and seven blocks.
• Chitty tallied a career-high 20 points.
• The Tigers shot 60% from the field (42-70)
• Cougars guard Antwaan Cushingberry led the team with 29 points.

What's Next?

The Tigers (0-2) open Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) play hosting the Trolls of Trinity Christian College on Saturday, January 2^nd. Tipoff inside McHie Arena is set for 3 p.m. Because of the COVID-19 Pandemic, there will be no fans permitted but fans can visit onutigers.com to view all of the live links for this game and the rest of the season.

--ONU—

*Contact: Sam Viebrock, Sports Information Director, stviebrock@olivet.edu