MBB: Ohio Athletic Conference

Dr. Acula · December 22, 2025, 09:45:24 AM

Mount got it done 73-71 and accomplished history on Saturday becoming the first team in program history to start 11-0. Mount was up 69-60 with 35 seconds left and the ball, but credit to ONU they forced a couple turnovers and hit some threes (including a nice play up the sideline to hit one at the buzzer).

This was probably the sloppiest I've seen Mount play this year (22 turnover?!), but a lot of that was due to Northern's defense. They were picking up full court most of the game. But it was also little things. Poor shot selection from secondary scorers a few times, careless unforced turnovers, etc. With 2:18 left up 63-57 they gave away a key point with a lane violation on Casenhiser's 2nd FT attempt on a shooting foul. Those are things they'll clean up.

Casenhiser, Hamilton and Collier combined to make 11 straight FT in the final 2:47. The backup ballhandler, Weekly, finished 5-6 also so if they can inbound the ball late they are in good shape.

One thing to applaud (and it was mentioned by the players in the Rep article) was how huge the 2nd unit came up for them. Weekly, Taylor, Dunbar, Collier and Vaden gave them critical play and mounted a comeback when the starters were "dead" (I think that's what one of the starters said). They forced 6 straight turnovers during a 13-0 run in the 2nd half.

Dr. Acula · December 22, 2025, 09:47:42 PM

Congrats to Chance Casenhiser on being named OAC player of the week. Well deserved and certainly not his last one. I remember his HS days at Lake and he was an elite scorer (I didn't get to watch him). In college being able to watch him regularly I'm impressed with his all around game. I don't say this lightly, but he has the talent to be one of the best to lace them up for Mount.

D3fanboy · December 30, 2025, 12:24:57 AM

Mount vs Calvin should be a good one huh?

Dr. Acula · December 30, 2025, 02:19:57 PM

Based on how the season is going so far I'd say it's safe to say it's a match up of the two best teams in the region. Calvin I would have had in that spot preseason. Mount I would not have guessed to be the other in December.

Dr. Acula · December 30, 2025, 04:12:39 PM

Mount shot 19% in the first half. Farrington had 2 fouls and played all of 5 minutes. Overway is killing them (15 pts on 7-11 shooting). But miraculously only down 33-28 at half.

Dr. Acula · December 30, 2025, 07:55:45 PM

Stellar effort from Mount in the second half to pick up a huge 78-72 win. They've been a second half team all season, but man did they show it today against a strong team. Calvin scored at 16:05 to go up 44-35. From there the Raiders shut Calvin out for over 8 minutes on a 20-0 run to take control (as much as either team was in control in this one). For the game Calvin had 19 turnovers for the game.

Hamilton was a perfect 13-13 at the line finishing with 20. As a team they were 8-8 at the line in the final 2 minutes. Casenhiser heated up with 14 points in the 2nd half to finish with 19.

As weird as this is to say about a guy who had 26 and 11, I thought now watching the game that they defended Overway pretty well. They were physical with him, but he's just a really good player. I was impressed with Ressler and Swartz shooting the ball too.

In the season perspective, that's the best win they can get until (hopefully) the NCAA tourney. No one in the OAC is on Calvin's level. Muskie is good, but they have no one that could even dream of slowing down Overway in the post. They don't have the size.

Dr. Acula · January 03, 2026, 01:41:08 PM

Wilm is up 39-16 over Etta at the BanJo. Even with as chaotic as the OAC is looking to be this year I did not have that on my bingo card.

Pios have been ice cold shooting under 20%. The PBP guy said they haven't played since Dec. 21st so definitely seems like some rust.

D3fanboy · January 04, 2026, 12:11:28 PM

sure looks like its a basketball school in Alliance now....

Dr. Acula · January 04, 2026, 07:58:08 PM

Hey, at least we know what we're getting from basketball. Fuline is always gonna recruit NEO. They're always gonna play hard and defend. He's never gonna underachieve. I can honestly only think of one time they ended a season where I thought it was bad (tourney loss at home to Stevens). That team woulda beat Stevens 8 or 9 times outta 10. This team is on track to host the first two rounds. Need to stay focused.

BillyRayJimBob · January 04, 2026, 11:31:30 PM

Quote from: Dr. Acula on January 04, 2026, 07:58:08 PMHey, at least we know what we're getting from basketball. Fuline is always gonna recruit NEO. They're always gonna play hard and defend. He's never gonna underachieve. I can honestly only think of one time they ended a season where I thought it was bad (tourney loss at home to Stevens). That team woulda beat Stevens 8 or 9 times outta 10. This team is on track to host the first two rounds. Need to stay focused.

Concur.
I have Purple Raiders flags still flying in Maryland
(2-digit IQs around here think it is for the "Raisins" [Ravens].

Dr. Acula · January 05, 2026, 08:44:25 PM

Muskie bounced back to pick up a solid road win at Hope last weekend, but we can't gloss over that head scratching loss the day before to 3-8 Olivet. I checked out the box score assuming the Fish turned it over 30 times or shot 9%. Neither happened. File it under the basketball season is long and unpredictable.

Mount sits at 4-0 currently. With 12 games to go I don't see how they finish any worse than 14-2. The OAC is not great this year. And trust me I looked and JCU still being here wouldn't change much. They're solid but not great. I'm very curious how Moran does after this year.

Flying Dutch Fan · Reply #3311 - Re: MBB: Ohio Athletic Conference

Quote from: Dr. Acula on January 05, 2026, 08:44:25 PMMuskie bounced back to pick up a solid road win at Hope last weekend, but we can't gloss over that head scratching loss the day before to 3-8 Olivet. I checked out the box score assuming the Fish turned it over 30 times or shot 9%. Neither happened. File it under the basketball season is long and unpredictable.

I think Olivet is much better than their W/L record would indicate. According to NPI they have the 4th highest SOS in the country, and their 8 losses include a 4pt loss at JCU, a 1pt loss to Heidelberg, and a 4 pt loss at RHIT. Coach Hargraves is notorious for always scheduling an extremely difficult non-con slate.

Dr. Acula · Reply #3312 - Re: MBB: Ohio Athletic Conference

That's a good point. Their record is misleading. I think Muskie is better than JCU, Berg and RHIT so the margin against Olivet still surprises me.