Box Score

Despite an encouraging start that featured a 7-point John Carroll lead with 8:42 left in the first half, the Capital Crusaders roared back on the strength of hot shooting and open looks to win a men's basketball game in University Heights for the first time in more than five years.

The Blue Streaks were effective early, building leads of 11-5, 13-6, and 22-15 behind five points from Regan Sweeney and four apiece from Kyle Hubbard and Ryan Farragher.

But the defending Ohio Athletic Conference tournament champion Crusaders turned the seven point deficit into a seven point halftime advantage with a 20-6 surge to finish the period.  During the last 8:42 before intermission, a single lay-up by Danny Wallack amounted to JCU's only made basket.

After intermission, the Blue & Gold cut the lead to six on multiple occasions, before Capital's Michael Sommer (15 points)and Tim Congrove (15 points) went to work.  Congrove made all five of his 3-point attempts, while Sommer, a 6-3 senior, drilled 6-of-10 field goals while picking up three steals.

While John Carroll's signature pressure defense forced 19 turnovers, the story of the game was in each team's ability to knock down shots.  Capital, which entered today's action with the top scoring defense in the OAC, showed that it can score the basketball as well.  The purple-clad Crusaders made 58% from the floor (29-50), including 10-of-19 from beyond the arc.

The youthful Blue Streaks launched 29 threes and only connected on seven while shooting 40% overall from the floor.

Hubbard and Farragher each scored 14, while Kenny Janz added 12 and Regan Sweeney chipped in 10 for the home team, which dropped to 4-4 in 2012-13, including 2-2 in conference play.  Capital, which was picked in the preseason to win the league, improved to 6-4 overall, 4-0 in the OAC.

John Carroll will attempt to circle the wagons against Muskingum at home on December 22 at 2:00 p.m.