Paynes Scores 19 As B-W Men's Basketball Team Defeats Ohio Northern, 70-65

ADA, OHIO  – Sophomore All-OAC forward Kyle Payne (Brunswick) scored 19 points as the Baldwin-Wallace College men's basketball team defeated Ohio Northern University, 75-60, today (Saturday, January 14, 2012) in an Ohio Athletic Conference game in the ONU Sports Center.

With the victory, the Yellow Jackets snapped a three-game losing skid and improved to 9-6 overall and 4-4 in the OAC while the Polar Bears fall to 8-7 overall and 4-4 in the OAC.

In addition to Payne for B-W, junior guard Ben Umbel (Poland/Seminary) scored 13 points and grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds and sophomore guard Kevin Krakowiak (Valley City/Holy Name) chipped in 11.  Ohio Northern was led by sophomore guard Branden Rushton with a game-high 24 points, senior center Scott Schnelle contributed 11 and sophomore guard Jared Horstman added 10

The Yellow Jackets opened the scoring, 3-0, when Krakowiak nailed a three-pointer of the assist from senior guard Promis Cabbil (Elyria) at 19:44.  The Polar Bears got on the board, 3-2, when Rushton hit a jumper with 19:31 remaining.

After exchanging baskets on the next two possessions, B-W would go on a 6-0 run to push the lead to six points, 12-6, on a three-pointer by Ben and baskets by Payne and Krakowiak at the 16:30 mark.

The Polar Bears would go on a 6-3 run to cut the lead down to four points, 15-11, on a three-pointer by senior guard Tony Meyer at 13:36. B-W would respond with a 8-0 run sparked by two three-pointers by sophomore forward Skyler Simpson (Centerburg) to push the lead to 12 points, 23-11, with 11:13 remaining.

Ohio Northern would go on a 4-0 run to cut the deficit down to four points, 23-17, as junior guard Taylor Kuhlman connected on a jumper and Rushton hit a pair from the charity stripe at the 8:48 mark.

B-W would close out the half by outscoring the Polar Bears 18-5 to take a 19-point advantage, 41-22, into the intermission.

In the second half, the Yellow Jackets would increase their lead to as many as 21 points, 43-22, at the 18:31 mark on a jumper by sophomore forward Tyler Ferrell (Brunswick).

Undaunted, Ohio Northern would battle back and outscore B-W, 30-14, over the next 12 minutes to cut the lead down to five points, 57-52, on a jumper by Rushton at the 6:41 mark.

After a three by Payne, 60-52, with 6:06 remaining, the Polar Bears would out score the Yellow Jackets  13-10 over the remainder of the game but came up short as B-W held on for a 70-65 victory.  Umbel sealed the game when he split a pair of free throws with seven seconds left.

The Yellow Jackets are back in action on Wednesday, January 18 when they will host Cardinals of Otterbein University in OAC game in the Ursprung Gymnasium at 7:300 p.m.  Fans can live on campus radio station WBWC 88.3 FM "The Sting" or via the internet at www.wbwc.com.  The pregame show starts 15 minutes prior to tipoff.  

FOR MORE B-W Sports Information, please contact Sports Information Director Kevin Ruple by telephone at 440-826-2327 and e-mail at kruple@bw.edu or Assistant SID Jeff Miller by phone at 440-826-2780 and email at jefmille@bw.edu. Fans can access the latest B-W athletics information at www.bw.edu/athletics and we invite you to join us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/bwyellowjackets and Twitter at http://twitter.com/bwathletics.