LATE FIRST-HALF RUN COSTS ONU IN CONFERENCE OPENER

DAVENPORT, Iowa – A 9-0 run late in the first half made all the difference as the Olivet Nazarene University men's basketball team dropped its conference opener 70-60 to St. Ambrose Saturday afternoon in Lee Lohman Arena.

Trailing 23-18 with 4:06 to play in a low-scoring first half, ONU drew a St. Ambrose technical foul which sent Caleb Corro to the line for four free throws. And when the redshirt junior guard knocked down all four free throws, the ONU deficit was cut down to one point.

But that was when the Fighting Bees (5-0, 1-0 CCAC) went on the game-altering 9-0 run to jump out to a double-digit lead. Caleb Swearingen snapped the run with a second-chance 3-pointer two minutes later, but St. Ambrose knocked down a three of their own on their ensuing possession to take a 10-point lead into the break.

ONU closed to within 43-39 on back-to-back layups from Eli Edwards and Corro and had possession of the ball just four minutes into the second half. But the Tigers couldn't get over the hump as the Bees went on a 7-2 run to extend their lead.

The Tigers had a few more chances down the stretch, but an SAU 3-pointer pushed their advantage to 15 points with only four minutes remaining. ONU clawed to within seven points off an Edwards three before the five late Bee free throws closed out the game.

Corro and Edwards had big nights in the loss, with the former filling in a game-high 23 points while the latter shot 7-of-12 for 18 points. Luke Braman and Caleb Swearingen chipped in eight points apiece. Brayden Long contributed the Tigers' only points off the bench with two.

Braman had a career night on the glass, hauling in 11 rebounds to lead the game and set a new career best. Corro finished with eight boards and Edwards had seven.

The Tigers will look to get into the win column with a road game at Saint Xavier Wednesday.

--ONU—

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