MVNU (5-0), which is ranked 19th in the NAIA Division II preseason poll, roared out to a 25-5 lead over the first 10 minutes of the game as the Cougars took control early. Junior guard Ben Falkenberg (left) led the early surge with 10 points that included a pair of three-pointers, while junior forward Jadin Thomas added six points.

MVNU continued to play well as the Cougars took a commanding 44-18 halftime advantage to the locker room at the break. Falkenberg finished with 17 first-half points on 7-of-10 shooting, while Thomas added nine points. Senior post Connor Gregg also grabbed 11 first-half rebounds. MVNU shot 52.8 percent from the field (19-for-36), 37.5 percent from three-point range (6-for-16), and did not attempt a free throw. The Cougars also held a 22-15 edge in rebounds and committed just six turnovers while forcing 13. The MVNU defense limited the visiting Racers (1-7) to 29.2 percent from the field (7-for-24), 12.5 percent shooting from three-point range (1-for-8), and 50.0 percent shooting at the free throw line (3-for-6).

The Cougars used a 20-12 run to take its biggest lead of the game 64-30 with 13:48 left in the game as Falkenberg and Thomas contributed eight and four points respectively. From there, MVNU went on to post the 81-64 victory.

Falkenberg finished with 25 points on 10-for-15 shooting that included a 5-for-10 performance from three-point range. Thomas added 15 points on 7-for-10 shooting, while Gregg posted a double-double with 10 points and a career-high 15 rebounds. Junior guard Dan Borcherdt and freshman guard Brandon Short also finished with nine points apiece. The Cougars shot 52.3 percent from the field (34-for-65), 37.0 percent from three-point range, and 33.3 percent at the free throw line (3-for-9). MVNU also won the rebounding battle 43-29.

“We played our best basketball of the season in the first half,” said MVNU head coach Scott Flemming. “Our defense was tremendous, we rebounded the ball well, and we were very unselfish on the offensive end. I thought we made it very difficult for them to get an open look. Unfortunately, in the second half, we did not sustain this kind of play. We had a big enough cushion to win the game fairly easy, but we proved we still have a long way to go. I will also give Northwestern Ohio a lot of credit for not folding and coming back and playing very well in the second half. We are glad for the win, but we need to keep improving.”

Northwestern Ohio was led by Aaron Braun with 14 points and seven rebounds off the bench, while Josh Vorst tossed in 11 points. The Racers shot 44.6 percent from the field (25-for-56), 21.4 percent from three-point range (3-for-14), and 73.3 percent at the free throw line (11-for-15).

The Cougars will return to action on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. when MVNU will host Daemen (N.Y.) College in another non-conference game.