BEARCATS FALL TO TRAILBLAZERS IN POSTSEASON MATCHUP

CIRCLEVILLE, Oh. – The Brescia University Men's Basketball team finished regular season as the #5 seed in the West Division. The Bearcats were set to play the #4 seed, Ohio Christian, as the Trailblazers had home court advantage as the higher seed. BU took the loss 87-80 as they end their season with a 9-14 overall record and a 6-12 record in conference play.

After a two-year hiatus, the Bearcats finally get a taste of postseason basketball. Despite winning the tip-off, an errant turnover would give the Trailblazers an early 2-0 lead. As both teams go shot for shot on the floor, the Bearcats saw themselves at a six-point deficit. A barrage of missed shots by each team amounted to nothing until Nevin Graves finally broke the drought with a three-pointer to cut down the Trailblazer lead. OCU would follow with a quick jump shot to keep the Bearcats at bay as Graves would answer back abruptly with a jumper of his own. A turnover by Ohio Christian would send the ball back to the Bearcats as a missed three by Tay Smith led to the offensive board by John Saenz for the and-1 basket. Saenz would tie the game at 18 with his charity stripe attempt. After multiple lead changes, the Bearcats were at a 35-28 deficit going into the locker rooms.

With Bearcat ball coming out after half, Javion Johnson would step back for a jumper to minimize the lead to five. A foul by the OCU defense following a missed shot would send Johnson to the free throw line. Only make one of two, the Bearcats pressed the Trailblazer offense into taking a forced shot for an air ball to give BU the ball down just four points. Graves, who had been heating up in the first half, would float a ball in the paint for the basket to get the Bearcats within two. The OCU offense would begin to connect on their shots as they start to inch away from the Bearcats. Saenz would get sent to the charity stripe again as the Trailblazers lead by two with a score of 42-39. Saenz would sink both free throws as a missed shot by OCU led to the Graves three-point dagger that would take the lead. The Bearcats would go on a 9-5 run over the Trailblazers as the second ticked on the game clock. Three back-to-back three pointers would give the Bearcats an 11-point lead with nine minutes to go. Unfortunately, the Bearcats couldn't finish off the Trailblazers as they came storming back to take the win 87-80.

Tay Smith led the Bearcat scoring with 23 points and 10 rebounds as Javion Johnson followed closely behind with 15 points. Nevin Graves rounded the Bearcat offense with 14 points.