SCHMIDT TOPS 2,000 AS TIGERS BLOW PAST USF IN SECOND HALF

BOURBONNAIS, Ill. – Tyler Schmidt became just the sixth player in Olivet Nazarene University men's basketball history to score 2,000 points in his career Saturday afternoon. The senior guard netted a game-high 21 points to lead the Tigers in a come-from-behind 78-65 victory over St. Francis in McHie Arena.

Needing 11 points entering the game, Schmidt nearly hit the mark in the first half. He scored seven in the opening period to keep the Tigers on pace with the hot-shooting Fighting Saints (5-14, 4-10 CCAC), who shot 17-of-29 from the floor in taking a 41-35 lead at the halftime break.

The Fighting Saints carried their offense into the second half, building an 11-point lead two minutes into the period. ONU, however, would outscore USF 43-19 over the final 18 minutes of play to pick up the win, improving the team to 15-6 overall and 9-4 in CCAC play.

Back-to-back threes from Landon Pflederer and Sam Emich ignited a 14-5 run that put ONU right back in the game. The former knocked down three triples during the stretch that cut the deficit to two in just four-and-a-half minutes.

Trailing 53-51 with 11:16 to play, Schmidt drove to the rim for a game-tying bucket. After a Luke Braman defensive rebound on the following possession, Schmidt made a nifty post move to rattle home a layup to net his 2,000th career point and give ONU their first lead of the game.

The Tigers would lead from there on out, outscoring USF by a total of 43-24 in the second half. ONU limited the Fighting Saints to just 31-percent shooting (9-of-29) with only one 3-pointer in the second period. On offense, the Tigers shot a sizzling 15-of-24 from the floor over the final 20 minutes, including a 4-of-7 performance from deep.

Schmidt was one of four Tigers to reach double figures in Saturday's win. Emich scored 10 in the second half to finish with 16. Pflederer knocked down five 3-pointers in scoring 15, while also hitting his 200th career triple. Caleb Swearingen recorded 12 points.

The Tigers will travel to Governors State Monday for a 6 p.m. tip-off.

--ONU—

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