BEREA, OHIO - Sophomore forward Chris Ameen (Broadview Heights/Walsh Jesuit) scored a team-high 20 points as the Baldwin Wallace University men's basketball team defeated Ohio Athletic Conference rival the University of Mount Union, 80-69, tonight (Wednesday, February 16, 2011) in the Rudolph Ursprung Gymnasium in Berea.
With its win, BW improves to 9-15 overall and 5-12 in the OAC. In addition to Ameen for the Yellow Jackets, freshman guard Kevin Krakowiak (Valley City/Parma Hts. Holy Name) scored a career-high tying 19 points and freshman guard Grant Fairhurst (Ashland/Senior) had 12. With its loss, Mt. Union is now 9-15 overall and 7-10 in the OAC. The Purple Raiders were led by senior forward Dave Pellerite with a game-high 24 points and junior forward Jimmy Wood chipped in 15.
In the first half, the Purple Raiders opened up the scoring when Wood made a layup at the 18:43 mark. BW quickly responded when Ameen hit a three at the 18:19 mark to give the Yellow Jackets a 3-2 advantage. Mt. Union responded with a 7-2 run to take a 9-5 lead with 15:47 left in the first half.
BW was able to cut the lead to one, 9-8, when Fairhurst hit a deep triple at the 14:58 mark. Mt. Union then used a 6-0 run giving the Purple Raiders a 15-8 advantage with 13:10 remaining. Krakowiak was able to cut the deficit to five, 15-10, when he hit a jumper at the 11:55 mark.
After both teams exchanged baskets, the Yellow Jackets cut the deficit to two, 20-18, when Fairhurst hit his second trey of the game with 10:58 remaining in the half. The Purple Raiders went on another 5-0 run to give them a 25-18 advantage when freshman guard T.J. Gillepsie sunk a pair of free throws with 9:47 left. BW cut the lead back to five when junior guard Promis Cabbil (Elyria/Senior) made a layup with 8:55 left to make the score 25-20 in favor of the Purple Raiders.
A quick three by Mt. Union pushed the score to 28-20, but the Yellow Jackets responded with a 9-0 run. BW took the lead back when Cabbil sunk a pair of free throws with 4:58 remaining to give the Yellow Jackets a 29-28 advantage.
Over the final four minutes there were six lead changes and the game was tied on eight occasions. BW was able to regain the lead when freshman forward Kyle Payne (Brunswick) hit a trey with 21 seconds left to give the Yellow Jackets a 38-35 lead at the intermission.
In the second half, Mt. Union opened on an 8-3 run to take a 43-41 lead when Pellerite hit a jumper with 17:25 remaining in the contest. BW was able to tie the game, 43-43, on the ensuing possession when Ameen sunk a pair of free throws with 16:55 left.
BW then used a 7-0 run to extend their lead to 50-43 with 15:32 remaining in the game. The Purple Raiders went on a 6-0 run of their own to cut the lead to one, 50-49, with 12:31 left. The Yellow Jackets then used a 6-0 run to take a 56-49 adavantage with 10:08 remaining. After the teams exchanged a pair of baskets, the Yellow Jackets went on an 8-0 run to open up a 12 point lead to make the score 66-54 with 6:13 remaining.
BW had its largest lead of the game of 15 points, 75-60, on a pair of free throws by Ameen with 3:04 remaining. The Purple Raiders could come no closer than 10 points in the final minutes of the game.
The Yellow Jackets are back in action this Saturday, Feb. 19 when they host Ohio Northern University in the regular season finale at 4:00 p.m. It is the second game of a women's and men's doubleheader in Berea. In addition, fans can listen to all of the action on either campus radio station WBW, 88.3 FM, or via the WBW Internet web site at www.wBW.com
This Saturday's twinbill will be taped and televised by SportsTime Ohio. In addition, the men's game on Saturday is the Third Annual Take a Kid to the Game Day. All children from first through eighth grades will be admitted free of charge when accompanied by a parent or adult. Prior to the game there will face-painting with the BW cheerleaders as well as games for the kids to play. Following the BW versus ONU men's game, there will be an autograph session with Yellow Jacket players and coaches.
FOR MORE SPORTS INFORMATION, please contact Sports Information Director Kevin Ruple by telephone at 440-826-2327 and e-mail at kruple@bw.edu or Assistant SID Jeff Miller by phone at 440-826-2780 and email at jefmille@bw.edu. Fans can access the latest BW athletics information at www.BWyellowjackets.com and we invite you to join us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/bwyellowjackets and Twitter at http://twitter.com/bwathletics.
