With MVNU (2-0) holding a 5-4 lead after the first three minutes, the Cougars rattled off nine straight points to move in front 14-4 at the 14:34 mark as all five starters had scored for the team.

MVNU then went on a 38-22 run to expand the lead to as much as 26 points on two occasions before settling for a comfortable 54-30 cushion as the teams went to the locker rooms at the half.

Senior guard Ben Falkenberg led the Cougars with 14 first-half points, while junior center Bryce Sanborn (left) added 10 points and five rebounds in a solid first-half performance. Borcherdt tossed in nine points with a trio of three-pointers, and senior forward Jadin Thomas grabbed eight rebounds to go with six points. MVNU shot 48.7 percent from the field (19-for-39), 58.3 percent from three-point range (7-for-12), and 69.2 percent from the free throw line (9-for-13). The Cougars also forced 14 turnovers and committed just seven themselves.

Mikah Turner tossed in 13 points on 5-of-14 shooting from the field to lead Berea (1-2), while Cody Hornsby also added six points. The Mountaineers shot just 28.6 percent from the field (12-for-42), 12.5 percent from three-point range (2-for-16), and 44.4 percent from the free throw line (4-for-9).

A pair of layups by Josh Mallory and a trey by Hornsby helped Berea trim the lead to 57-37 less than two minutes into the second half. However, MVNU answered with a 12-0 run to basically put the game away as Thomas scored back-to-back baskets, sophomore guard Brandon Short hit a free throw, Falkenberg drained a three-pointer, Sanborn added a layup, and senior wing Andy Francis drilled a pair of free throws to give the Cougars a 69-37 advantage with 14:14 left in the contest.

From there, MVNU was able to get its bench players a lot of minutes as for the second straight game every player on the Cougars’ roster got into the scoring column in the 89-68 victory.

Falkenberg finished with 20 points to lead MVNU, while Borcherdt added 15 points and four assists with both Falkenberg and Borcherdt hitting five three-pointers apiece. Thomas (right) posted his second straight double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds, and Sanborn just missed a double-double with career highs of 12 points and nine rebounds. Sophomore post Adam Grimm also had career highs of six points and seven rebounds off the bench, while Short registered a team-high four steals. The Cougars shot 40.6 percent from the field (28-for-69), 39.3 percent from three-point range (11-for-28), and 62.9 percent from the free throw line (22-for-35).

Turner finished with a double-double of 21 points and 11 rebounds - both game highs - to pace the Mountaineers, while Hornsby added 19 points. Mallory also contributed 10 points, nine rebounds, and four assists. Berea shot just 30.0 percent from the field (24-for-80), 15.2 percent from three-point range (5-for-33), and 68.2 percent from the free throw line (15-for-22).

“I thought we came out and played very solid defense tonight,” said MVNU coach Scott Flemming. “Our defense and rebounding led to some high percentage shots. We talk about the first five minutes of the second half being the most important part of the game. I was very pleased with how we came out and attacked them again to start the second half. We are improving and that is what a coach always looks for.”

The Cougars will get another chance to continue to improve when MVNU will host the University of Northwestern Ohio on Saturday at 3:00 p.m. in a non-conference game.