The John Carroll University men's basketball program features one of the deepest rosters in Division III basketball, with ten players averaging at least 10.6 minutes per game.

Depth was tested on Saturday afternoon.

The Blue Streaks' bench outscored the Wilmington Fightin' Quakers second unit, 52-20, paving the way to a 105-97 victory at the Fred Raizk Arena. JCU maintained its ground atop the OAC ladder, improving to 13-2 overall and 7-1 in the OAC. Head coach Pete Moran and company capped off a perfect, two-win week, potentially raising the team's No. 23 national ranking in the coming days.

The journey from University Heights to Wilmington is the longest in terms of miles (210 according to MapQuest) between two schools in the Ohio Athletic Conference. Perhaps that is one reason why in 21 previous trips to Wilmington, the Blue Streaks have struggled to stay just above .500 (11-10).

Additionally, senior John Cirillo was sitting out with an injury, adding more intrigue to the challenge.

John Carroll's depth answered on this day. Matthew Csuhran paced the offense with 22 points, while Jimmy Berger and Antonio Vuyancih chipped in 18 and 12 points, respectively. Sean Flannery tallied 10 points, the second-highest total of his two-year tenure in the Blue and Gold.

JCU particularly shined at the free-throw line, drawing contact and draining 34-of-39 (87.2%) attempts.

Moran's 10-in, 10-out rotation provided Csuhran with an opportunity to shine against a second-team defense, as he tallied 12 points on 4-of-6 shooting in the opening 10 minutes. The second platoon scored 16 of the Blue Streaks' first 22 points, keeping them within three points of the opposition.

JCU worked its way back into the contest courtesy of stingy defense, as Wilmington was held to a shooting percentage below 30% from the beyond the perimeter and below 40% from the field in the first half. The road five committed 13 turnovers and 13 fouls in the opening period, limiting it to a one-point advantage (44-43) at the intermission.

Second-half action was the turning point.

After falling victim to a 10-0 run, the Blue Streaks battled back with an offensive fury from Csuhran. The senior sparked the scoring with seven of the next nine points in the contest, closing the margin to three points.

Earning trips to charity stripe helped lead Moran and company the rest of the way.

Fourteen of John Carroll's final 16 points came at the free-throw line, as the Berger brothers, Vuyancih and Flannery teamed together to methodically gain separation and have firm control of the tightly contested affair. The tenacious defense forced 12 turnovers and fueled a 21-4 run toward the later stages of the half.

The Blue and Gold's speed in transition led to 31 fast-break points, 46 points in the paint and an 11th game with 100-or-more points.

John Carroll will head to Berea, Ohio and take on the No. 25 Baldwin Wallace Yellow Jackets on Wednesday at 7 p.m. from the Ursprung Gymnasium.