Cougars Capture A+ Autobrokers Title with 72-58 Win


	Cougar Basketball Game Recap Cougars Capture A+ Autobrokers Title with 72-58 Win written by Dave Parsons, Sports Information Director Game Boxscore MOUNT VERNON, Ohio (11-5-2011) - The Mount Vernon Nazarene University men's basketball team overcame a nine-point first-half deficit by playing good team defense and going 24-for-28 at the free throw line as the Cougars held off Ohio Christian University 72-58 in the championship game of the A+ Autobrokers Holiday Invitational on Saturday in the Physical Education Center. The visiting Trailblazers (1-1) jumped out to an early 15-6 lead over the first eight and a half minutes as Tirrell Cumberland scored seven points, Michael Farrell added five points, and Anthony McDaniel drained a 3-pointer. However, MVNU (3-0) began to clamp down defensively at that point as the Cougars held Ohio Christian scoreless for the next 7:05. Meanwhile, MVNU rattled off 12 straight points as senior forward Danil Zakhlebnyy scored five points, senior guard Robbie Taylor *(left)* converted a three-point play, and junior guard Bryce Barnes and freshman guard Landon Israel each added two points apiece to put the Cougars on top 18-15 with 5:31 to play. A pair of free throws by Cumberland at the 4:42 mark finally broke the scoring drought for the Trailblazers and they proceeded to close the half on an 11-6 run to take a 26-24 lead to the locker rooms at the break. Zakhlebnyy led MVNU with 11 points in the first half, while Taylor added five points and sophomore post Caleb Williams grabbed five rebounds. The Cougars shot 36.4 percent from the field (8-for-22), just 10 percent from 3-point range (1-for-10), and made all seven of their free throws. Cumberland paced Ohio Christian with 11 points as the Trailblazers shot 31.3 percent from the field (10-for-32), 36.4 percent from 3-point range (4-for-11), and made all four of their free throw attempts. The second half went back and forth over the first eight minutes with MVNU clinging to a 41-39 lead with 11:54 to play. Then a 9-2 run by the Cougars pushed their lead to 50-41 with 8:28 left as Taylor scored four points and junior guard Ben Severns capped the surge with a trey. Ohio Christian closed the gap to 50-45 on a jumper by Mohamed Fall with 6:40 remaining, but MVNU went 11-for-15 from the free throw line the rest of the way as the Cougars pulled away for the 72-58 victory with the final score being the largest margin of the contest. Taylor, who was selected as the tournament's Most Valuable Player, led MVNU with 22 points, five assists, five rebounds, and four steals. Zakhlebnyy added 21 points and six rebounds, while Williams finished with nine points, a game-high 11 rebounds, and four assists as both players joined Taylor on the All-Tournament Team. Barnes added nine points off the bench, and Severns tallied seven points. The Cougars shot 44.9 percent from the field (22-for-49), 25 percent from three-point range (4-for-16), and 85.7 percent from the free throw line (24-for-28). They also out-rebounded the Trailblazers 43-35. Cumberland finished with 22 points to lead Ohio Christian, while Wesley Russell added 15 points and eight rebounds as they were both named to the All-Tournament Team. Fall, who had 18 points and 13 rebounds in Friday's win over Siena Heights (Mich.) University was held to just six points on 3-for-14 shooting from the field. The Trailblazers shot 31.3 percent from the field (21-for-67), 17.9 percent from 3-point range (5-for-28), and 78.6 percent from the free throw line (11-for-14). "Today was a grind," said MVNU coach Matt Moore. "I was proud of our defensive effort in the second half and our seniors carried us once again. We didn't shoot the ball particularly well, but we made free throws and we rebounded well which allowed us to hold off an OCU run." "This was a good weekend for us," Moore added. "We were tested in different ways and we were fortunate to come away with two victories. We will now be tested by a very good team in our first road game. I look forward to seeing how our guys respond." The Cougars will return to action on Tuesday when MVNU will travel to NAIA Division II No. 21 Indiana University East for a non-conference game that will tip off at 7 p.m. In Saturday's consolation game, Siena Heights (1-1) cruised past Ohio University-Zanesville (0-2) 112-44 as Andre Johnson led six players in double figures with 20 points. The Saints' Chris Lemm earned a spot on the All-Tournament Team after scoring 16 points in 16 minutes. John Brothers led the Tracers with 12 points and eight rebounds.

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