Yellow Jackets Defeat OAC-Leading Capital

Posted: Feb 11, 2012

BEREA, OHIO – Sophomore guard Kevin Krakowiak (Valley City/Holy Name) scored a game-high 21 points to lead four Yellow Jacket players in double figures as the Baldwin-Wallace College men's basketball team defeated Ohio Athletic Conference leader Capital University, 75-64, today (Saturday, February 11 2012) in an OAC game in the Rudolph Ursprung Gymnasium inside the Lou Higgins Center.

With the victory, the Yellow Jackets won their fourth straight game and improved to 15-8 and 10-6 in the OAC. With the loss, the Crusaders slipped to 15-8 and 12-4 in the OAC.

In addition to Krakowiak for B-W, sophomore forward Kyle Payne (Brunswick) scored 15 points, junior Chris Ameen (Broadview Heights/Walsh Jesuit) contributed 11 and freshman guardJaron Crowe (Mentor) added 10, including going a perfect 4-of-4 from the charity stripe. Junior guard Ben Umbel (Poland/Seminary) came one point and one assist shy of his first career triple double as he recorded nine points, a career-best tying nine assists and a game and career-high tying 12 rebounds. Capital was led by junior forward Spencer Niekamp with 19 points and senior guard Kelly Winter added 15.

The Crusaders opened the scoring at the 19:22 mark when Winter hit a three pointer, to give them an early 3-0 lead. The Yellow Jackets then got on the board when Krakowiak made a driving layup at the 18:40 mark to cut the Crusader lead to 3-2.

The Yellow Jackets would go on an 8-1 run to gain and extend their lead with sophomore forward Aaron Selmek (Delaware/Columbus St. Francis DeSales) hit a hook shot in the lane at 13:39 to give them a 10-4 lead.

The Crusaders would regain the lead with a 7-0 run of their own capped by a three-point shot by junior guard Mitch Westerheide to give them a slim 11-10 advantage at 10:48.

Then the Yellow Jackets would then go on a 5-0 run capped off by a thunderous fast break dunk by Ameen with 9:53 remaining in the half as they would retake the lead 15-11. Both teams would trade buckets to keep the game close and make the score 19-17 with 8:08 remaining. The Yellow Jackets would go on with a 7-0 run to extend their lead by nine points, 26-17, when Krakowiak canned a trey with 5:16 remaining in the half.

The Crusaders would outscore B-W 7-3 over the remainder of the half to trail 29-24 at the intermission.

In the second half, the Crusaders would get on the board on a three-pointer by junior forward Michael Sommer, 29-27, at the 19:49.

Baldwin-Wallace would then go on a 13-2 run capped of on a Krakowiak three-pointer to make to extend the lead to 43-31 with 14:19 left to play. During the Jacket run, Payne had a powerful fast break slam.

Capital would outscore the Yellow Jackets 33-32 over the remainder of the game but could only come as close as seven points, 69-62, on a jumper by Niekamp with 51 seconds remaining. B-W would push its lead to as many as 14 points on a trey by Krakowiak with 2:47 to play.

The Yellow Jackets are back in action on Wednesday, February 15 as they travel to Alliance to take on the Purple Raiders of Mount Union in an OAC game at 7:00 p.m. Fans can listen to the game live on campus radio station WBWC 88.3 FM "The Sting" or via the internet at www.wbwc.com. The pregame show starts 15 minutes prior to tipoff.

Media and fans are reminded that the B-W will televise its Feb. 18 men's and women's basketball doubleheader versus Ohio Northern University on SportsTime Ohio. The game will be shown on STO on Feb. 18 at 9:00 p.m. B-W has broadcast more of its athletics events on regional cable TV than any other Division III school.

In addition on Feb. 18, the B-W men will host the Fourth Annual "Take a Kid to the Game" Day. Children up to the eighth grade will be admitted for free when accompanied by an adult. Prior to its 4:00 tipoff versus ONU, children can have their faces painted by the B-W Cheerleaders or can play games with the cheerleaders and "Stinger", the Yellow Jacket mascot. Following the game, B-W student-athletes and coaches will be available to sign autographs.

FOR MORE B-W 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 B-W athletics information at www.bw.edu/athletics and we invite you to join us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/bwyellowjackets and Twitter at http://twitter.com/bwathletics.