John Carroll JCU 7-0,3-0 OAC

Muskingum MUSK 2-5,0-3 OAC

John Carroll JCU

7-0,3-0 OAC

Final

Dec. 09, 2023

Muskingum MUSK

2-5,0-3 OAC

Score By Periods
Team	1	2	F
John Carroll JCU	43	44	87
Muskingum MUSK	33	51	84

Summary
Box Score

Lexi Coon

Henry Raynor (pictured here in a file photo) tallied a career-high 21 points and added 11 boards, while Luke Chicone was one assist shy of a triple-double.

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | 12/9/2023 4:54:00 PM | Deuce Zak, Senior Staff Writer

Men's Basketball Holds Off Muskingum Comeback Effort in Road Win

NEW CONCORD, Ohio -- Whether in Marietta, Berea, or New Concord, it is always a challenge to win on the road in the Ohio Athletic Conference.

The John Carroll Blue Streaks, the present #1 team in the nation per D3hoops.com endured a road battle with the Fighting Muskies of Muskingum, and weathered a late storm to get out with a win, 87-84.

For such a high scoring matchup, the opening stages of the contest did not reflect as such. Through the first six minutes of the first frame, the Blue Streaks and Muskies were locked at 4 apiece, the only baskets for the Blue and Gold coming from Will Yontek and Luke Chicone.

The next basket did not come for either team until the 14-minute mark when the visitors went on a 5-0 run from a Connor O'Toole three and two free throws from Brandon Rose. The Muskies countered with a run of their own, scoring seven unanswered to retake the lead at 11-9 on the back of some tough shots.

The two squads would trade baskets for the next several minutes, with Luka Eller getting a plethora of the 13 first-half offensive boards for the Blue Streaks and converting. The Muskies would take their last lead of the contest at 18-16, and the top-ranked Blue Streaks began to awaken.

In a monstrous 39-point, 14-minute stretch, the Blue and Gold began to outrun the Muskies behind the speed of Chase Toppin and Luke Chicone, and Henry Raynor starting a career afternoon, going into the halfway mark with a 10-point lead at 43-33.

The second half brought pace and energy for both squads. Scoring came early and often for both teams, with a combined 11 points scored in the first three minutes, with Henry Raynor beginning to take over for the Blue Streaks.

The Clevelanders began to gain some separation in the early stages, stringing stops and scores together to balloon the lead to as 19 around halfway through the half, the score being 73-54.

The second ten minutes of the final frame slowed to a screeching halt, as the scorching Blue Streaks got stuck at 74 points for three minutes, their next bucket coming in the form of a Luke Chicone free throw.

Both teams had been trading buckets throughout the half, and after a sloppy series of possessions, a smart timeout from Head Coach Pete Moran got the Blue Streaks back on course, and they extended their lead to 17 in the final minutes.

However, nothing comes easy in the OAC, and the Muskies started scoring in a hurry, erasing the deficit down to six with 7 seconds left, and an and-one put them behind by three with a second left, but it was not enough, as the Blue Streaks held on for a gritty win, 87-84.

It took everyone chipping in to get the win this afternoon. Henry Raynor led all scores for JCU with a career-best 21 points and 11 rebounds, yet another double-double for the standout big man.

Luke Chicone did a little bit of everything today, falling only one assist shy of a triple double, scoring 19 points, grabbing 10 rebounds, and dishing out nine assists. The junior guard was instrumental in the Blue Streaks success. Will Yontek also shined, with 12 points and four rebounds. Luke Frazier grabbed eight boards, Luka Eller grabbed six, and Chase Toppin added four for a staggering 55 total rebounds on the evening, outrebounding the Muskies by 21.

The Blue Streaks will have another week off before the final OAC matchup of 2023, where they will face the Wilmington Quakers in a home affair next Saturday, December 16.

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