ALLIANCE, Ohio -- Freshman guard T.J. Gillespie (Toledo/Toledo St. John's) scored a season-high 20 points as Mount Union's men's basketball team jumped out to a big lead and never looked back in a 69-56 Ohio Athletic Conference win against Ohio Northern Saturday in Alliance.

Mount Union (6-8, 4-3 OAC) jumped out to a 27-10 lead in the game's first 13 minutes and Gillespie, who entered the game averaging 4.8 points per game, had a pair of three's and 10 points during the run.

The Purple Raiders kept the pressure on and a three-pointer by Dave Pellerite (Olmsted Falls/Olmsted Falls) at the buzzer gave them a 38-23 lead at the break.

Ohio Northern (6-8, 3-5 OAC) got no closer than nine points the rest of the way.

Aside from Gillespie's heroics, Pellerite finished with 13 points to lead Mount Union.

Scott Schnelle had 19 points and Tony Meyer made four three's for 12 points to pace the Polar Bears.

Mount Union stays home to host Baldwin-Wallace next Wednesday (Jan. 12) at 7:30 pm at The MAAC in Alliance.