SCHMIDT MARKS NEW CAREER-HIGH IN 93-68 VICTORY OVER ST. FRANCIS

BOURBONNAIS, Ill. – The RV Olivet Nazarene University men's basketball team welcomed the Fighting Saints of University of St. Francis to McHie Arena for a Wednesday night CCAC showdown. 

Tyler Schmidt and Alex Gross was the heartbeat of the Tiger offense early in the first half.  The Tiger tandem scored the game's first 19 points until Landon Pflederer buried a three.  ONU pulled ahead 22-10.  The Fighting Saints chipped away and went on an 8-0 run but still trailed 24-18.  Back-to-back layups by Caleb Swearingen built the Tiger lead up by 10 at 28-18.  The Fighting Saints kept cutting into the Tiger lead with six minutes left, going on a 9-3 run making the score 40-29.  The Tigers went on to lead St. Francis, 40-31, going into the half.  Schmidt led all scorers with 17 points and Gross led all rebounders with eight.

Halftime: RV Olivet Nazarene 40, University of St. Francis 31

Schmidt kicked off the scoring for the Tigers marking the game's first four points of the second half.  The Tigers led 44-31.  At the score 56-42, Gross and Cade Chitty sparked a 12-2 run as the Tigers led 68-44.  During that run, Chitty made a pair of field goals and a free throw. The Tigers kept up the pace in the second half and did not let the Fighting Saints gain any momentum. 

Caleb Corro, Pflederer, and Jake Brown played well down the stretch for the Tigers as they blew past the Fighting Saints, 93-68. 

GAME VITALS

Final: RV Olivet Nazarene 93, University of St. Francis 68

Records: RV Olivet Nazarene: 14-3 (8-1 CCAC) | University of St. Francis: 8-6 (4-5 CCAC)

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

QUICK HITS

• Gross becomes the first Tiger to eclipse the 300-career block mark. 
• Schmidt marked a new career-high with 35 points. 
• Gross followed with his 13th double-double recording 22 points, 17 rebounds, and assisting on eight baskets.
• Chitty rounded out the double-digit scoring totals with 11 points.
• Pflederer and Chitty followed Gross with six boards, while Corro grabbed five. 
• The Tigers outrebounded the Fighting Saints, 50-23, and outscored them, 66-28 in points-in-the-paint.

WHAT'S NEXT?

The RV Tigers travel up to the northern suburbs of Chicago on Saturday, January 8th as they play the Trojans of Trinity International University.  Tipoff is set for 3 p.m. inside Van Dixhorn Arena. 

--ONU—

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