SECOND-HALF RUN LIFTS No. 25 TIGERS PAST No. 24 INDIANA TECH

FORT WAYNE, Ind. – In the first of three consecutive NAIA Top-25 matchups, the No. 25 Olivet Nazarene University men's basketball team found its footing in the second half to knock off No. 24 Indiana Tech 81-74 on the road at the Schaefer Center.

After the Warriors hit a three-pointer to open the second half with a 46-42 lead, Sam Emich and Tyler Schmidt ignited a game-altering 18-2 run that put the Tigers in the driver's seat. The duo combined for four consecutive layups to spark the run and claim the Tigers' first lead since the first minute of the game.

Schmidt then dropped in a pair of free throws before Caleb Swearingen found his shooting stroke, hitting a mid-range jumper and knocking one down from behind the arc. And when Landon Pflederer capped the spurt with another three-pointer, the Tigers held a 12-point lead midway through the second half.

ONU held their advantage from there on out, largely in part due to their perimeter defense down the stretch. After Indiana Tech shot over 46-percent from deep in the first half, the Tigers limited the Warriors to just 28-percent three-point shooting in the final period.

The Warriors were able to cut the ONU lead to six points with 45 seconds to play, but Schmidt, who sank 10 free throws in the game, and Daniel Murphy both hit free throws in the final minute to seal the Tiger victory.

Indiana Tech (1-2) led by as many as 10 points with five minutes to play in the first half. But five Tigers contributed to a 14-5 run to close out the period, capped by a Swearingen three to set up the big second half.

All five ONU starters finished in double figures. Schmidt led all scorers with 25 points. Pflederer and Emich each hit three from 3-point range to finish with 15 and 13, respectively. Swearingen and Griffin Andricks chipped in 10 points apiece.

The same five were all credited with multiple assists, as well. Pflederer, Emich, and Schmidt tabbed three each while Andricks and Swearingen both dished out a pair.

Andricks brought down a team-leading nine rebounds. Eli Edwards and Murphy both came off the bench to haul in seven rebounds apiece.

ONU, now 2-0 to start the season, will continue their stretch of ranked matchups when they host No. 9 Indiana Wesleyan Wednesday at 6 p.m. in McHie Arena.

--ONU—

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