Related Links:
Box Score

The Capital University men's basketball team fell behind by double digits at halftime Saturday and was unable to pull off a comeback despite a strong second-half push in a 79-67 setback at Baldwin Wallace in an Ohio Athletic Conference contest in Berea, Ohio.

Four players scored in double figures for the Crusaders (11-6 overall, 8-2 OAC), who dropped into a tie for second place with the Yellow Jackets in the conference standings. Senior forward Spencer Niekamp (St. Henry, Ohio) paced Capital scoring with 14 points to go along with six rebounds. Senior wing Michael Sommer (Celina, Ohio) posted 13 points and five rebounds off the bench.

Baldwin Wallace (13-4, 8-2) shot 64 percent in the first half and 56 percent for the game from the floor, while the Crusaders made 45.5 percent of their attempts.

Sophomore forward Andrew Bolka (Xenia, Ohio) and senior guard Tim Congrove (Circleville, Ohio) registered 11 and 10 points, respectively, for Capital.

After the two teams went back and forth for the first 13 minutes of the first half, the Yellow Jackets concluded the period on an 18-9 run to take a 40-30 advantage into the locker room.

The Crusaders trailed by as many as 14 in the second half before a 16-4 run brought the team within 56-54 with 9:20 to play following a jumper by Congrove. Bolka made it a 61-60 deficit with 5:50 to play, but Baldwin Wallace responded with a 10-0 run to take an 11-point lead and control of the affair with 1:55 on the clock.

Junior forward Ben Jackson (Columbus, Ohio) contributed with eight points and a team-high eight rebounds off the bench for Capital, which held an 11-4 advantage in second-chance points.

The Crusaders look to get back on track this Wednesday at home against Heidelberg. Game time is set for 7 p.m. at the Capital Center.