Cougars Fall at Cedarville 79-56 in Non-Conference Action


	Cougar Basketball Game Recap Cougars Fall at Cedarville 79-56 in Non-Conference Action written by Dave Parsons, Sports Information Director Game Boxscore CEDARVILLE, Ohio (11-15-2011) - The Mount Vernon Nazarene University men's basketball team got off to a slow start and never recovered as the Cougars fell 79-56 in non-conference action in the Callan Athletic Center at Cedarville University on Tuesday night. The Yellow Jackets (2-0) got a pair of 3-pointers from Zach Brown and another trey from Zimmy Nwogbo while the Cougars (4-2) were going 0-for-3 from the field and committing two turnovers as Cedarville grabbed a quick 11-0 lead with just over three minutes gone by. MVNU began to chip away at the lead as senior forward Danil Zakhlebnyy and sophomore post Caleb Williams *(left)* both made a 3-pointer and junior guard Bryce Barnes added six points off the bench on a trey and a three-point play as the Cougars pulled within 16-12 with 12:16 left in the half. However, that would prove to be as close as MVNU would get as the Yellow Jackets finished the first half on a 25-8 run to take a commanding 41-20 lead to the locker room at the break. Barnes led the Cougars with nine first-half points off the bench, while Williams added five points and four rebounds. MVNU shot just 26.1 percent from the field (6-for-23), 27.3 percent from 3-point range (3-for-11), and 62.5 percent from the free throw line. The Cougars closed the gap to 51-36 on a jumper by Williams just five and a half minutes into the second half as MVNU tried to rally. The comeback was short-lived, though, as Cedarville answered with a 22-8 run to take command of the game with a 73-44 lead and only 5:09 left in the contest. The Yellow Jackets would go on to post the 79-56 victory. Williams and senior guard Robbie Taylor both scored 14 points to lead the Cougars with Williams also grabbing a team-high seven rebounds. Barnes also finished with 11 points off the bench. MVNU shot 34.7 percent from the field (17-for-49), 38.1 percent from 3-point range (8-for-21), and 63.6 percent from the free throw line (14-for-22). Cedarville was led by Brian Hecker with 14 points, while Nwogbo finished with 13 points and nine rebounds. Brown and Daniel Hickman also added 11 points apiece. The Yellow Jackets held a 28-2 advantage in points in the point, and they shot 48.3 percent from the field (29-for-60), 35.7 percent from 3-point range (10-for-28), and 91.7 percent from the free throw line (11-for-12). "We played a better team tonight," said MVNU coach Matt Moore. "I thought we showed pockets of great team basketball, but in order to compete with elite teams you have to be able to execute at both ends. Tonight, we did not do that enough." The Cougars will be off the rest of this week as they prepare for their Mid-Central College Conference opener next Tuesday night when NAIA No. 9 Grace (Ind.) College comes to the Physical Education Center for a 7 p.m. tip.

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