Box Score To twist a familiar phrase, you only win your 1000th game once.

With a packed house on hand to witness history, the John Carroll men's basketball team reached a proud milestone Saturday, winning its 1,000 game in school history.

The Blue Streaks beat Ohio Northern, 83-56, to keep hold of first place in the Ohio Athletic Conference.

"To reach this milestone, I would have to contribute it to so many players, administrators and great assistant coaches," longtime JCU head coach Mike Moran said. "It's ... a relfection on the players that have come before ... where one team passes the baton to the next."

The Blue Streaks have won 362 games under Moran, including 225 in the conference, since he became head coach in 1992. Men's basketball has been a varsity sport since 1920.

Evident from the start, there was no doubt the Blue Streaks played with a purpose.  Senior Kyle Hubbard led the way with 12 points in the first half as John Carroll doubled up Ohio Northern on the scoreboard, 42-21.

A strong first half enabled Hubbard to finish with an overall game high of 15 points and six rebounds despite being plagued by foul trouble.

Not far behind came senior Mark Hester, ending the first half with a dunk that was part of his 14-point performance.

Another shinning star included junior Kenny Janz, who turned in his first career double-double with ten points and 12 boards, including seven defensive rebounds.

Ohio Northern's first team All-OAC Senior Scott Schnelle, who averages 12 points per game, was held to nine on just three field goals.  Sophomore Branden Rushton paced his team with 13 points.

While a majority of the Streaks' points were made from the inside of the key, timely shooting from the arc led to a 5-12 effort from long range, including a pair of three-pointers from Conor Sweeney. In sharp contrast, Ohio Northern was just 2-15.

In the first meeting between these two teams this season, held December 10 in Ada, John Carroll was 8-29 and Ohio Northern 5-10 from three-point range in an 82-71 Polar Bear victory.

As players past and present gathered to celebrate win number 1,000, there was an undercurrent that while the achievement was nice, it was not the ultimate prize being sought.

"Our team needs to keep up our consistency and confidence to take on Heidelberg next," said Hubbard. "I think we are starting to gel together at the right time and getting comfortable with each other."

Capital also won Saturday, which keeps John Carroll in a first place tie with the Crusaders in the conference, each sporting a record of 9-3.

Overall, JCU has the best record in the OAC at 14-4.