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TIGERS USE LOCKDOWN SECOND-HALF DEFENSE TO GET PAST TROJANS
Posted: Nov 30, 2022

TIGERS USE LOCKDOWN SECOND-HALF DEFENSE TO GET PAST TROJANS

Box Score

DEERFIELD, Ill. – The Olivet Nazarene University men's basketball team maintained their perfect start to the CCAC season with some stout second-half defense to get past the Trinity International Trojans 90-74 Wednesday night in Deerfield, Ill.

The Tigers came out of the halftime locker room facing a five-point deficit. Trinity International (5-5, 2-2 CCAC) held the lead for most of the first half, piecing together a 7-0 run to take the lead at the 13-minute mark. Landon Pflederer chipped in 13 points in the first half, but TIU still managed to take a five-point lead at the break.

The second half was a different story. ONU took the game over with lockdown defense and transition scoring. The Tigers limited the Trojans to one made field goal over the first eight minutes of the second half.

This allowed the Tigers to stack up points quickly. Sam Emich opened the second-half scoring and later knocked down a three-pointer to give ONU its first lead since the early goings of the first half.

The Tigers then polished off an 11-0 run to push their lead to double-digits. Caleb Swearingen converted on a three-point play to ignite the run before Caleb Corro and Pflederer hit back-to-back threes. Griffin Andricks scored two of his team-leading 10 bench points to cap the decisive run.

ONU outscored the Trojans 48-27 in the second half, improving their shooting clip from under 50-percent in the first half, to better than 62-percent in the second half (20-of-32) while also locking TIU down to 26-percent (9-of-34) shooting from the floor over the final 20 minutes.

Swearingen led all scorers with a season-high 20 points. He was 9-for-11 from the floor and nearly missed out on a double-double with nine rebounds. Four other Tigers finished in double-figures. Barik Olden dished out a game-high 11 assists for ONU.

The win keeps the Tigers perfect in the CCAC, improving their record to 4-0 in the conference and 7-1 overall.

GAME VITALS

Final: Olivet Nazarene 90, Trinity International 74

Records: Olivet Nazarene 7-1 (4-0 CCAC) | Trinity International 5-5 (2-2 CCAC)

Location: Van Dixhorn Arena | Trinity International University | Deerfield, Ill.

QUICK HITS

WHAT'S NEXT?

The Tigers will stay on the road for another CCAC matchup when they face the Cardinal Stritch Wolves on Monday, Dec. 5. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. CST.

 

--ONU—

 

*Contact: Evan Wild, Sports Information Director, ewwild@olivet.edu