Kyle Pisco was one of many Blue Streaks to find his shooting touch against Muskingum, dropping in 12 points on 3-5 shooting beyond the arc
Box Score There are no free passes in the Ohio Athletic Conference. Every victory must be earned.
Such was the case Saturday as John Carroll had to go the full 40 minutes to subdue a one-win team in New Concord, getting past Muskingum University, 78-64.
Coming into Saturday's contest with Muskingum after having lost their most recent game to the Mount Union Purple Raiders, 83-74, the Blue Streaks knew that a road victory over the Fighting Muskies was much needed.
More than 10 minutes through the first half, the Blue Streaks and Fighting Muskies were gridlocked in a tightly contested match with JCU leading by three, 15-12. However, sophomore
Regan Sweeney scored a layup and followed that basket with a pair of free throws, giving JCU a seven point lead.
With less than one minute remaining in the first half, the Blue Streaks still only led by eight, 36-28, before freshman
Danny Wallack nailed a three-pointer to give JCU an 11 point lead. The Fighting Muskies, however, would whittle the deficit down to seven before halftime, 40-33.
The second half was all about John Carroll keeping Muskingum at a safe distance. The lead never got less than seven and never more than 13 until the final minute of the contest.
John Carroll evened its record at 9-9 overall and 6-6 in the OAC thanks to 17 points from
Kyle Hubbard on 6-8 shooting from the floor.
Regan Sweeney, who was 6-6 from the free throw line, and
Kyle Pisco, who was 3-5 from beyond the arc, each chipped in 12.
As a team, JCU shot 26-48 from the floor for its second highest percentage day (.542) of the year. Only a 41-68 (.603) effort against Geneva on December 29 was better.
Muskingum fell to 1-18 overall and 0-12 in league play despite four players in double figures, led by Logan Kimble's 14.
