NO. 25 COUGARS SNAP THE RV TIGERS' FIVE-GAME WINNING STREAK TO CLOSE OUT 2021

FORT WAYNE, Ind. – The RV Olivet Nazarene University men's basketball team concluded play in 2021 as they took on the No. 25 University of Saint Francis (Ind.) Cougars on Wednesday.  The Cougars topped the Tigers, 89-84. 

Barik Olden, Caleb Swearingen, and Tyler Schmidt spearheaded the scoring for the Tigers early in the first half as they combined for the first six points. The Cougars held the momentum throughout the first half and kept distancing themselves from the Tigers.  With 10 minutes left and after Olden made a jumper, The Cougars buried five straight points to extend their lead to 24-14.  At 29-21, USF went on a 7-0 run until Caleb Corro made a jumper making the score, 36-23. 

Then, with five minutes left in the first half, the Tigers started to mount a comeback.  Corro and Schmidt led an 8-0 run and came within six points at 37-31.  The Cougars saw late offense in the final minutes of the half as they took a 51-36 lead going into the half. 

Halftime: No. 25 University of Saint Francis 51, RV Olivet Nazarene 36

After the Cougars made the first five points of the half, Olden, Swearingen, Landon Pflederer, Schmidt and Jake Brown all contributed to a 12-0 run by the Tigers and only trailed, 56-48.  Then, Schmidt made three consecutive field goals and the Tigers got within four at 58-54.  At 60-54, the Cougars grabbed the momentum back and went on an 11-3 run and pulled ahead 71-59.  The Tigers closed the gap with four minutes to play in the game.  ONU scored the nine of the next 11 points but still trailed 81-76.

 Olden and Corro each marked a three in the final 15 seconds of the game but that proved to be not enough as the University of Saint Francis took down Olivet Nazarene, 89-84. 

GAME VITALS

Final: No. 25 University of Saint Francis 89, RV Olivet Nazarene 84

Records: No. 25 University of Saint Francis 12-4 | RV Olivet Nazarene University 12-3

Location: Hutzell Athletic Center | University of Saint Francis (Ind.) | Fort Wayne, Ind.

QUICK HITS

• Schmidt led the Tigers with 23 points while Olden followed with 21 points. 
• Corro and Pflederer finished with 11 and 10 points, respectively. 
• Schmidt led the Tigers with 10 rebounds to wrap up his first career double-double.
• The Tigers outscored the Cougars, 18-12, in points off the bench. 

WHAT'S NEXT?

The RV Tigers celebrate the start of 2022 as they welcome the Lynx of Lincoln College to McHie Arena for a New Year's Day matchup.  The tipoff is set for 3 p.m. and just as a note, this game will not be live streamed and will only have live stats. 

--ONU—

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