EMICH, SCHMIDT EACH DROP 30 TO TAKE DOWN GOVERNORS STATE

UNIVERSITY PARK, Ill. – Tyler Schmidt and Sam Emich combined for over two-thirds of the Olivet Nazarene University men's basketball team's points to lead the Tigers to an 89-74 win over Governors State Monday evening in the ARC.

Schmidt filled in 30 points on 11-of-17 shooting while Emich led all scorers with a career-best 33 points. Schmidt carried the load in the first half with 17 before passing the baton to Emich, who uncorked 26 in the second period. Over the final 20 minutes, the Copley, Ohio native went 10-for-15 from the floor, including a 4-of-5 mark from deep.

In total, the senior duo combined 63 of ONU's 89 points, while also recording a collective 11 assists and nine rebounds to lead the Purple & Yellow Gold to the win, their second in a row.

Schmidt got the Tigers rolling early, connecting on his first five attempts from the floor. And when he knocked down a 3-pointer to put the Tigers up 21-14, the Valparaiso, Ind., native already had 11 points just nine minutes into the game.

The lead ballooned to as many as 12 in the first half, with ONU ultimately taking a 40-32 lead into halftime. The Tigers built the lead up to 13 in the second half before Governors State (6-16, 4-10 CCAC) fought back with a 15-3 run to make it a one-point ball game at 53-52.

The senior duo had the answer. Schmidt extended the lead back to three with a mid-range jumper before Emich unloaded for nine consecutive points. The pair combined to outscore the Jaguars 15-4 in the six-minute stretch that put the Tigers back up by double digits. ONU led comfortably from there.

Landon Pflederer dished out a game-high nine assists while adding eight points. Gabe Renchen came off the bench to lead the game in rebounds with a career-high 10 rebounds. He also netted seven points.

The Tigers, now 16-6 overall and 10-4 in league play, will look to extend their win streak to three when they host IU Northwest Wednesday evening in McHie Arena.

--ONU—

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