Tigers Open Five-Game Road-Trip Defeating the Crimson Wave

WHITING, Ind. – The Olivet Nazarene University men's basketball team took to the road for the first time this season and defeated the Calumet College of St. Joseph Crimson Wave, 86-49, inside the Rittenmeyer Center on Wednesday.

Freshman Landon Pflederer (FR/Tremont, Ill.) opened the scoring of the game knocking down a wide-open three. The Tigers kept the momentum going marking 13 straight points making the score 16-3. In the first nine minutes of the game, the potent Tiger defense stymied the Crimson Wave to a single field goal and 30% the entire half. The Tigers continued to play impressively on the defensive end, holding the Crimson Wave to 16 points the rest of the half and took a 41-19 lead. 19 points is the least amount of points surrendered by the Tigers since they gave up 19 points against Trinity International on January 8, 2020.

Halftime: ONU 41, CCSJ 19

The Tigers continued to pull away in the second half. After a back-and-forth start of the half, at 51-26, Gavin Griggs (SR/Middletown, Ind.) sparked a 9-0 run and took a 58-26 lead. The Tigers stretched their lead to as many as 45, while shooting 68% from the field in the second half. ONU, spearheaded by Alex Gross (JR/Hope, Ind.) and Cade Chitty (JR/White Heath, Ill.), outrebounded the Crimson Wave in the second half 21-6 and 46-13 in the game. Additionally, Pflederer buried four of the seven three-pointers made, while John Contant (SR/Hickory Hills, Ill.), CJ Smith (SR/Cumming, Ga.), and Barik Olden (SO/Groveland, Ill.) notched the other three-pointers.

The Tigers shot a season-best 60% from the floor and defeated the Calumet St. Joseph Crimson Wave 86-49.

Game Vitals

Final: Olivet Nazarene 86, Calumet St. Joseph 49

Records: Olivet Nazarene 5-3 (4-1 CCAC) | Calumet St. Joseph 0-2 (0-2 CCAC)

Location: Rittenmeyer Center | Calumet College of St. Joseph | Whiting, Ind.

Quick Hits

• The Tigers gave up the fewest points since they gave up 47 points on October 25, 2019 against Lincoln Christian University.
• Gross led the Tigers with 21 points and 11 rebounds.
• Pflederer followed with a career-high 12 points on 4-for-6 shooting from behind the arc.
• Contant contributed 11 points.
• Chitty followed Gross with eight rebounds, off the bench.
• All Tiger players saw minutes in this contest.

What's Next?

The Tigers travel to Elgin, Ill. on Saturday, January 30 to compete against Judson University. Tipoff inside the Lindner Fitness Center is set for 3 p.m.

--ONU—

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