Cougars Defeated at Rio Grande

RIO GRANDE, Ohio. – The Mount Vernon Nazarene University men's basketball team (7-2) traveled to Rio Grande, Ohio on Tuesday, November 25 for a non-conference game at the University of Rio Grande (4-3).

The Red Storm jumped out to a 10-4 lead, but the Cougars chipped away. MVNU did take a 25-24 lead after a Bede Lori made layup with 8:31 remaining in the half and stretched its lead to 31-25 after Reed Platfoot's layup with 5:29 on the clock. The six-point advantage would be MVNU's largest of the game. The Red Storm battled back, going on an 11-0 run to end the first half. MVNU found itself down 31-36 at the break.

Momentum carried over into the second half for Rio as it continued to build its lead. The Red Storm maintained control and put itself up 50-36, its largest lead of the game, with 14:18 remaining in the second half. MVNU kept fighting and cut the lead back to single digits on a few occasions. MVNU would get to within five at 60-55 after another Platfoot layup with 6:58 left. The Cougars hung around but could never cut the deficit to fewer than seven points the remainder of the game and ultimately fell in the end by a final score of 70-79.

Rio Grande shot lights out in the game, shooting 52.7% from the field and 38.9% (7-18) from three. MVNU did outrebound the Red Storm 31-28 but turned the ball over 14 teams, leading to 23 points. Isaiah Brown led MVNU with 20 points while shooting 5-11 from the field. He was 9-10 from the line. Devin Dreier had 12 points, four rebounds and a steal. Peyton Heiss finished with 10 points, three steals and two rebounds.

Coach Ronai's Thoughts

"All credit to Rio. They did a nice job attacking downhill the majority of the night. They were picked to win the River States, and they showed tonight they have that ability. We obviously did not play well at all and still had chances to get over the hump. This group has fight and I'm confident they are going to grow, learn, and make the appropriate adjustments moving forward."

What's Next

MVNU returns to Ariel Arena for Crossroads League play on December 3. Tip-off against Spring Arbor University is set for 7:00 p.m.

Mount Vernon Nazarene University is a private, intentionally Christian teaching university for traditional age students, graduate students, and working adults. With a 327-acre main campus in Mount Vernon, Ohio, MVNU emphasizes academic excellence, spiritual growth, and service to community and church. MVNU offers an affordable education both in-seat and online to nearly 2,200 students from 36 states, 1 U.S. commonwealth and 41 foreign countries.