NO. 23 TIGERS DEFEAT SAINT AMBROSE TO WIN FIFTH STRAIGHT CONTEST

DAVENPORT, Iowa – The No. 23 Olivet Nazarene University men's basketball team defeated the Saint Ambrose University Fighting Bees, 77-57, inside Lee Lohman Arena on Wednesday night to win its fifth straight game. 

The Tigers fell behind early as the Fighting Bees marked eight of the first 10 points of the game. Then, the Tigers saw the momentum swing in their favor after Alex Gross converted an-and-one to spark a 7-1 run to cut the Saint Ambrose lead to 11-9.  The Tigers did not take the lead in the first half until a little over two minutes left when Jake Brown hit a jumper making the score, 27-26.

Barik Olden and Cade Chitty combined for the final Tiger points of the half as the Tigers took a slim, 32-29 lead going into the half. 

Halftime: No. 23 Olivet Nazarene 32, Saint Ambrose 29

The Tigers came out of the break with a lot of urgency.  Gross notched eight points in the first three minutes of the half as he extended the Tiger lead to 40-29.  The Tigers then let the Fighting Bees back into the game as they cut their deficit to 40-38.  The Tigers then grabbed the momentum back as they went on a 12-3 run highlighted by three-point baskets by Olden and Griffin Andricks. ONU pulled out in front, 52-41.   The Tigers kept the pressure on the Fighting Bees in the majority of the second half as Gross, Chitty, Schmidt and Landon Plfederer all made baskets down the stretch. The Tigers took a commanding 70-52 lead with two minutes left. 

Schmidt marked three of the final five points of the game for the Tigers as ONU moves to 3-0 in league play as they defeat the Fighting Bees, 77-57. 

GAME VITALS

Final: No. 23 Olivet Nazarene 77, Saint Ambrose 57

Records: No. 23 Olivet Nazarene: 6-1 (3-0 CCAC) | Saint Ambrose: 2-3 (1-1 CCAC)

Location: Lee Lohman Arena | Saint Ambrose University | Davenport, Iowa  

QUICK HITS

• Gross gathered his sixth double-double of the season as he marked 19 points and 16 rebounds. 
• Schmidt followed with 18 points and Chitty scored 14 points. 
• Plfederer led the Tigers with nine assists, which ties his career-high
• Olden followed Gross with five rebounds while Brown grabbed four.
• Four the five starter for the Tigers scored in double figures.
• The Tigers outscored the Fighting Bees in points-in-the-paint, 60-16.

WHAT'S NEXT?

The No. 23 Tigers welcome the Saint Xavier University Cougars to Ralph 'Tres' Hodge Court inside McHie Arena for a CCAC clash on Saturday, November 20th.  Tipoff is set at 3 p.m.

--ONU—

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