Cougars Hold Off Northwestern Ohio 81-73 in Season Opener


	Cougar Basketball Game Recap Cougars Hold Off Northwestern Ohio 81-73 in Season Opener written by Dave Parsons, Sports Information Director Game Boxscore MOUNT VERNON, Ohio (11-1-2011) - The Mount Vernon Nazarene University men's basketball team got 44 points combined from seniors Robbie Taylor and Danil Zakhlebnyy as the Cougars built a 22-point lead and then held on down the stretch for an 81-73 non-conference victory over the University of Northwestern Ohio in the season opener for both teams on Tuesday night in the Physical Education Center. The visiting Racers (0-1) only trailed for seven seconds over the first 14 minutes of action as they built a five-point lead on four different occasions including 25-20 with 7:47 left in the half after a jumper by Dustin Guthrie. However, a 3-pointer by junior guard Ben Severns at the 7:11 mark started a 22-7 run for MVNU (1-0) to close the half as the Cougars went to the break with a 42-32 cushion. Zakhlebnyy *(left)* scored eight points during the surge, while Severns added six points. Zakhlebnyy led MVNU with 12 first-half points, while Taylor and Severns each tossed in nine points. Junior forward Zach Zeltman also grabbed seven rebounds off the bench. The Cougars shot 50 percent from the field (15-for-30), 33.3 percent from 3-point range (4-for-12), and made all eight of their free throw attempts. They also scored nine points off of turnovers and held an 8-4 advantage in second-chance points. Johnny Elliott led Northwestern Ohio with 12 points, while Guthrie tossed in 10 points. The Racers shot 37.1 percent from the field (13-for-35), 25 percent from 3-point range (3-for-12), and 50 percent from the free throw line (3-for-6). They did have a 9-2 advantage in fastbreak points, though. MVNU carried its momentum from the end of the first half over into the second half as the Cougars opened the final frame with a 18-6 run to take a seemingly commanding 60-38 advantage with 12:31 left to play. Zakhlebnyy and Taylor each scored seven points during the surge, while sophomore post Caleb Williams added four points and three assists. However, MVNU then went on a scoring drought over the next 5:25 as Northwestern Ohio began to creep back into the game with a 9-0 run that was capped off by a 3-pointer from Jake Bolyard to pull the Racers within 60-47. Taylor ended the scoreless streak with a trey of his own at the 7:06 mark to push the lead back to 63-47. The Cougars still led 70-56 with 5:39 to play after freshman guard Landon Israel, who got the starting nod in his first collegiate game, nailed a pair of free throws. Northwestern Ohio did not give up, though, as the Racers inched to within 75-68 following another 3-pointer by Bolyard with 1:06 remaining. That would be as close as Northwestern Ohio would get the rest of the way, though, as MVNU went 6-for-8 at the free throw line down the stretch as the Cougars were able to weather the storm for the 81-73 victory. Taylor *(right)* finished with a game-high 24 points on 7-for-13 shooting from the field that included four 3-pointers as he led MVNU to the victory. He was just two points shy of his career high of 26 points set on January 6, 2011 against Daemen (N.Y.) College. Zakhlebnyy added a career-high 20 points and eight rebounds as he topped his old high of 17 points that he had set twice previously. Williams contributed 12 points, five rebounds, and three assists, and Severns tossed in 10 points with a trio of treys. Zeltman also contributed six points and a game-high nine rebounds off the bench. The Cougars shot 48.1 percent from the field (25-for-52), 40 percent from 3-point range (8-for-20), and 85.2 percent from the free throw line (23-for-27). Elliott led the Racers with 22 points on 9-of-18 shooting, while Bolyard, who ranked sixth in NAIA Division II in scoring last year, picked up where he left off with 18 points and eight rebounds in just 22 minutes of action. Guthrie and Drew Moore also reached double figures with 13 and 10 points respectively, and Northwestern Ohio held a 31-10 advantage in bench points. The Racers shot 42 percent from the field (29-for-69), 25.9 percent from 3-point range (7-for-27), and just 47.1 percent from the free throw line (8-for-17). "We battled tonight with a good team as if it were already mid-December," said MVNU coach Matt Moore, who improved to 3-0 in season openers. "I was very proud of the efforts by all our players, but especially of our two seniors. Zach and Bryce (Barnes) also both gave us a big boost off the bench, and I felt we did enough to create some cushion once they made their run." "This is a fun group to coach because they want to be led," Moore added. "We now need to refocus and prepare ourselves for a tournament." The Cougars will return to action at home on Friday when they host the four-team A+ Autobrokers Holiday Invitational. The first game at 6 p.m. will feature Siena Heights (Mich.) University taking on Ohio Christian University followed by MVNU against Ohio University-Zanesville at 8 p.m. Then, on Saturday, the consolation game will be played at 2 p.m. followed by the championship game at 4 p.m.

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