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Cougar Basketball Game Recap
Rio Grande Holds off Cougars 91-84 in
Non-Conference Game
written by Dave Parsons, Sports Information Director
Game Boxscore
RIO GRANDE, Ohio (12-15-2009) - The Mount
Vernon Nazarene University men’s basketball
team battled back from a seven-point
second-half deficit only to have host
University of Rio Grande go 18-for-18 from
the free throw line in the final period to
post a 91-84 non-conference victory on a
rare Tuesday afternoon game in Newt Oliver
Arena.
 The
Red Storm (5-7) jumped out to an early 12-8
lead in the first half on back-to-back
three-pointers by Doug Campbell and P.J.
Rase. Rio Grande would build its lead to as
much as nine points at 39-30 before settling
for a 44-38 margin as the teams went to the
locker rooms at the break.
The visiting Cougars (5-6) battled back from
a seven-point deficit to take a 72-69
advantage with around five minutes left in
the contest. The game was tied at 76-76 with
just over three minutes remaining.
Then, Rase nailed an off-balanced
three-pointer to give the Red Storm the lead
for good 79-76 and Rio Grande would proceed
to hit every free throw attempt down the
stretch on the way to a 15-8 run to close
the game for the 91-84 victory.
Junior guard Brandon Short (left)
had the hot hand for MVNU as he poured in a
career-high 28 points and was 11-for-14 at
the free throw line. Senior guard Austin
Kaiser and sophomore guard Robbie Taylor
added 14 points apiece, while senior post
Bryce Sanborn contributed 12 points and
seven rebounds. Senior wing Travis Brown
just missed a double-double with 10 points
and nine rebounds, and sophomore forward
Jordan Heatherly had six points, seven
rebounds, and four blocked shots. The
Cougars shot 46.3 percent from the field
(31-for-67), 12.5 percent from three-point
range (2-for-16), and 69 percent from the
free throw line (20-for-29).
Rio Grande was led by Campbell with 22
points off the bench, while Rase finished
with 19 points. Bud Teer added 17 points and
14 rebounds off the bench, and Brad Cubbie
tossed in 10 points. The Red Storm shot 43.9
percent from the field (29-for-66), 36
percent from three-point range (9-for-25),
and made all 24 of their free throw
attempts.
"Today was a battle that came down to making
big plays,” said MVNU coach Matt Moore.
"(Rio Grande) made more than we did down the
stretch. I thought we were aggressive at
both ends, but in the closing possessions
they made their free throws and hit two big
threes that gave them separation.”
"I told our guys afterwards to keep
fighting,” Moore added. "We are right at the
doorstep of a breakthrough, but they can’t
see it because they are focusing on just the
end result. We have played four games this
year without one of our starters dressing
and have been in most all of those games.
Our margin for error is slim, but I believe
we have the heart to claw our way through as
conference play nears.”
Following the game, the Cougars drove from
Rio Grande to Columbus and boarded a plane
for Florida. MVNU will return to action on
Thursday at Florida College at 7:00 p.m. and
will then play on Friday at NAIA Division II
No. 16 Warner (Fla.) University at 7:00 p.m.
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