Men's Basketball rallies for 67-57 win over Linfield (Ore.) in Surf 'N Slam Classic opener

Ezra Bradshaw

By Tim Glon

| Box Score | Ramapo-FDU Box Score |

SAN DIEGO, Calif. -- Ohio Northern rallied from a 13-point first half deficit to post a 67-57 men's basketball victory over Linfield (Ore.) in the semifinals of the Surf 'N Slam Classic Sunday night at Harry West Gym at San Diego City College.

The Polar Bears (9-1) advance to Monday night's championship game at 11 pm (EST) against Ramapo (N.J.), who posted an 87-61 victory over or Farleigh Dickenson-Florham (N.J.)

Ezra Bradshaw and Kyle Meyer led four ONU players in double figures in scoring with 16 points each.

Kurtis Brown and Jake Cannan each chipped in 11 points for Ohio Northern.

The Wildcats (1-6) got off to a hot start, racing to a 27-14 lead, keyed by a 10-0 run that expanded a 10-9 game into a 20-9 Linfield advantage.

After Austin Hunt drilled back-to-back baskets to make it 27-14 with 9:26 left in the half, the Polar Bear defense tightened.

Ohio Northern limited Linfield to just 30 points over the game's final 29 minutes, turing the 13-point deficit into a 10-point victory.

ONU got things turned around quickly, scoring the game's next 10 points to pull within 27-24 with 6:56 left in the half.

Trailing 37-36 at intermission, it took Northern just 30 seconds of the second half to take the lead when Cannan drilled a 3-pointer to give ONU a 39-37 lead.

After LC tied the game at 46-all, Meyer scored six points in a 12-1 run that gave Northern the lead at 58-47 with 8:04 left in the game.

Scott Schnelle's basket at the 11:51 mark made it 48-46 and gave ONU the lead for good.

Bradshaw then made a pair of free throws and Meyer hit two field goals to make the score 54-46.

After a free throw by Hunt made it 54-47, Sam Bastian scored in transition to give ONU a 56-47 lead and Meyer added a pair of free throws to cap the run.

The Wildcats would pull within 58-53 with 6:40 to go, but Northern would use a 9-2 run to extend its lead to 67-55 with 1:38 remaining in the game.

Ohio Northern made good on 24 of 48 field goal attempts for 50 percent, while holding Linfield to 22 of 61 shooting for 36.1 percent.

The two teams each collected 35 rebounds, committed 18 turnovers and made 5 three-pointers, but ONU enjoyed a  14-8 advantage at the foul line.

Eric Olson scored 19 points, K.C. Wiser had 18 points and Hunt added 10 points for Linfield.

Bastian and Meyer each grabbed a game-high six rebounds for ONU.

The Polar Bears are off to a 9-1 start for the second time in the last three seasons under head coach Jeff Coleman. The 2006-07 squad started 11-1 en route to a No. 2 national ranking and a 19-6 season overall.

Ohio Northern is also 18-3 in regular-season tournament play in the Coleman era, including a 4-1 record this season. Northern has won tournament titles in seven of their previous 10 tournaments in the past four years.