By: Athletic Communications Student Assistant AJ Schultz '27

BEREA, Ohio – The Baldwin Wallace University men's basketball team dropped the Ohio Athletic Conference opener against No. 3 nationally ranked John Carroll University in overtime by a score of 99-93 in Ursprung Gymnasium inside the Lou Higgins Center.

BW Leaders (1-4, 0-1 OAC)

• Freshman forward AJ Pestello (Cuyahoga Falls/Stow-Munroe Falls) totaled 22 points and eight rebounds
• Freshman guard Titus Baskerville IV (Stow/Stow-Munroe Falls) recorded his first career double-double by recording 20 points and 10 assists   
• Sophomore guard Ray Ellington (Westlake) led the Yellow Jackets in scoring with 24 points while adding seven rebounds and shot a proficient 10-17 from the field 
• Sophomore guard Brayden Hamilton (Brunswick) shot 4-7 from three on his way to 17 points to go along with his eight rebounds

John Carroll Leaders (5-0, 1-0 OAC)

• Luke Frazier led all scorers with 26 points while also tallying 11 rebounds, and six assists 
• Luke Chicone added 15 points, including the game-sealing free throws.
• Will Yontek recorded a near double-double with 11 points and eight rebounds

First Half (JCU 49-42)

• JCU got the scoring started with a layup
• The Yellow Jackets got out to a hot 12-8 start after hitting three straight threes forcing a John Carroll timeout
• The Blue Streaks closed the final 8:40 on a 23-9 run.
• BW kept themselves within striking distance by shooting an efficient 7-13 from beyond the arc
• John Carroll controlled the glass outrebounding the Yellow Jackets 22-15 including 8 offensive rebounds
• Ellington led all scorers with 15 points including a last second three
• Luke Frazier led the Blue Streaks in scoring with 12 points

Second Half (Tied 83-83)

• BW got the scoring started with an early layup
• Baskerville IV led all scorers with 13 of his 20 points on the night
• Frazier led John Carroll in scoring with 12 points in the period 
• The Yellow Jackets closed the half with an 18-11 run, including seven straight from freshman guard Caden Hudak (Medina/Buckeye) for his first collegiate points
• A Blue Streaks turnover allowed BW to regain possession with a chance to tie or win the game
• A layup by Pestello assisted by Baskerville IV beats the buzzer as the Yellow Jackets force OT

Overtime (JCU 99-93)

• Toppin gave John Carroll the lead with a three
• The Blue Streaks continued to control the glass by adding three offensive rebounds resulting in 7 second chance points in the extra period
   

The Yellow Jackets return to the court on Saturday, December 2 as they host an Ohio Athletic Conference contest against Muskingum University at 7 p.m. in Ursprung Gymnasium inside the Lou Higgins Center in an Ohio Athletic Conference contest.