No. 13 TIGERS RIDE BIG FIRST HALF TO VICTORY AT JUDSON

ELGIN, Ill. – An explosive first half set the tone for the No. 13 Olivet Nazarene University men's basketball team as they cruised to a 108-80 victory over Judson in the Lindner Fitness Center Saturday afternoon.

The Tigers scored 59 points over the first 20 minutes on a scorching 77.7-percent shooting clip (21-of-27). They also connected on all seven of their attempts from beyond the arc in scoring their highest total in any half this season.

Judson (2-6, 1-2 CCAC) held tough through the opening moments of play, trading baskets with the No. 13 Tigers and even taking a 10-7 lead four minutes in. But that was when a Griffin Andricks layup followed by a Landon Pflederer three-pointer and a Sam Emich jumper made a 7-0 run that gave the Tigers a lead they would hold for the remainder of the game.

The ONU lead would grow from there behind Tyler Schmidt, who filled in 21 of his game-leading 23 points on 8-of-10 shooting and three triples in the first half alone. His final three came on ONU's final possession of the half which gave the Tigers a 59-34 advantage heading into the locker room.

The outcome was never in question in the second half. And when Daniely Murphy knocked down a three-pointer to extend the ONU lead to 34, the reserves would come in to close out the big win, the Tigers' third win in as many CCAC games.

Schmidt and Pflederer both filled in over 20 points each to lead the Tigers past the century mark for the second consecutive contest. The duo each knocked down three 3's as Schmidt led all scorers at 23 points and Pflederer right behind at 21. The latter also knocked down six free throws.

Emich continued his dominant stretch, nearly recording another double-double with 18 points and nine rebounds. Andricks shot an efficient 6-of-8 from the floor in scoring 15. Eli Edwards came off the bench to net 10 points, giving ONU five in double figures. Murphy and Caleb Swearingen dropped in seven each and Jack Holohan registered six in the blowout win.

The Tigers, now 7-1 overall and 3-0 in league play, will take a break from CCAC action when they host Moody Bible in McHie Arena Thursday, Dec. 7 at 6 p.m. CST.

--ONU—

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