ONU BOUNCES BACK WITH 90-78 WIN OVER TROJANS

BOURBONNAIS, Ill. – The RV Olivet Nazarene University men's basketball team bounced back at home with a 90-78 win over Trinity International Wednesday night at McHie Arena. Tyler Schmidt led the way with 23 points 4 assists, and 2 steals on the night.

Barik Olden got it going early of the Tigers accounting for 12 first-half points shooting 5-7 from the floor. ONU shot it at a clip of 57 percent and out-rebounded the Trojans 21-12. Caleb Corro added a spark off the bench converting both of his three-point attempts for six points in the first period.

TIU scored the first two points of the contest for their first and only lead of the night. It lasted until the 18:15 minute-mark when a Barik Olden layup made it 4-2 and ONU never looked back. Olivet went on an 8-0 run that spanned three minutes to make it a 14-5 score with 14:13 left in the first. At the 5:09 mark, Landon Pflederer swiped a steal and dished to Tyler Schmidt to extend to their lead of the half, 38-25. Barik scored the bucket for the Tigers' largest lead of the half at 15 a with 1:50 remaining.

Halftime: RV Olivet Nazarene 43, Trinity International 32

Tyler Schmidt took over the majority share of the scoring in the second half tallying 15 points. As a team, ONU doled out nine total assists in the half with Pflederer leading the way with four. Caleb Swearingen gave nine productive minutes off the bench hitting both of his three-point attempts and tacking on two free throws.

Olivet forced Trinity International into calling a timeout at the 14:38-mark after Schmidt and Olden converted consecutive buckets and extended the lead to 16.  Chitty Cade laid in twice in consecutive possessions with under 12 minutes to play. Swearingen came into the game and hit his first of two three-point buckets at the 9:14-mark. TIU gained some momentum themselves going on a 7-2 run before Pflederer converted a three with six minutes left. ONU responded with a 9-2 run as time wound down to ensure the victory.

GAME VITALS

Final: RV Olivet Nazarene 90, Trinity International 78

Records: RV Olivet Nazarene: 8-2 (5-1 CCAC) | Trinity International: 5-6 (2-3 CCAC)

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

QUICK HITS

• Gross registered his ninth double-double of the season with 12 points and 12 boards. 
• Schmidt tallied more than 20 points for the third time this year.
• Plfederer doled out seven assists, the second-most in a game so far this season.
• Olden tied his season-high on the boards with seven rebounds in the contest
• The Tigers shot 59% from the field and 50% from beyond the arc

WHAT'S NEXT?

The RV Tigers are again at home in McHie Arena on Wednesday, December 8th as they host the Viterbo University at 6 p.m.

--ONU—

*Contact: Patrick Kaindl, Sports Information Graduate Assistant, pkaindl@olivet.edu