UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS, Ohio - Turnovers and missed free throws sent Capital University's men's basketball team to an 83-75 defeat at John Carroll University Saturday in Ohio Athletic Conference play, snapping the team's 11-game win streak.
The loss dropped the fifth-ranked Crusaders to 17-2 on the season and 10-2 in the OAC. The Blue Streaks improved to 14-4 and into a first place tie with Capital at 10-2 in the conference standings.
Senior guard Nate Stahl (St. Henry, Ohio/St. Henry HS) hit a three-pointer and a jumper on back-to-back possessions to give Capital a 53-45 lead with 15:08 left in the game. But the Blue Streaks answered with a 16-0 surge over the next 3:25 and led 61-53, as Capital turned the ball over six times and missed three shots during that stretch.
The Crusaders cut the deficit to two points following a layup by senior forward Casey Brown (Columbus, Ohio/Bishop Ready HS) at 68-66 with 6:42 left, and Capital had a chance to tie but missed two free throws on the ensuing possession. JCU hit a three-pointer to extend its lead to five moments later, and the Crusaders could get no closer over the remainder of the contest.
Senior guard Ryan Wood (Pickerington, Ohio/Central HS) had a team-high 23 points and Stahl scored 17 points with a game-best 12 rebounds. Brown added 10 points and nine rebounds while fellow senior forward Ross Niekamp (St. Henry, Ohio/St. Henry HS) also tallied 10 points to go along with seven boards and three steals.
But even though the Crusaders held a 46-35 advantage in rebounding, Capital committed 21 turnovers and hit just 11-of-23 (47.8 percent) free throws. The Blue Streaks scored 22 points off of those turnovers, including 18 in the second half.
And after shooting 57.7 percent (15-of-26) from the field in the first half, the Crusaders made just 14-of-34 (41.2 percent) shots in the second frame, including 1-of-9 (11.1 percent) three-pointers.
Capital plays host to Marietta College at 7 p.m. Wednesday in The Capital Center.