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Box Score

The Capital University men's basketball team remained in a tie for first place in the Ohio Athletic Conference Saturday with an 82-73 victory at Mount Union in a contest at Alliance, Ohio.

The game will be shown on television tonight at 11:30 p.m. on SportsTime Ohio.

Senior wing Michael Sommer (Celina, Ohio) posted 25 points and five rebounds to lead the Crusaders, who moved to 13-6 overall and 10-2 in the conference, tied atop the standings with Marietta with six regular season games to play.

Junior forward Ben Jackson (Columbus, Ohio; above), making his first start of the 2012-13 campaign in place of injured sophomore Andrew Bolka, totaled 12 points, eight rebounds and four blocks. Senior forward Spencer Niekamp (St. Henry, Ohio) added 13 points.

Capital knocked down 11-of-24 (45.8 percent) of its 3-pointers and shot 53 percent for the contest, including a sizzling 66.7 percent (16-for-24) clip in the second half. The Purple Raiders (8-11, 6-6) shot just 42.2 percent from the floor, offsetting a 38-28 advantage in rebounding.

In the first half, neither team led by more than five points as Capital took a 34-32 lead into the locker room.

The Crusaders extended their lead to eight by the 15:47 mark of the second half after a lay-up by Niekamp. Back-to-back-to-back 3-pointers by senior guard Tim Congrove (Circleville, Ohio), sophomore forward Daniel Ocke (Sidney, Ohio) and sophomore guard Adam Blake (Kingston, Ohio) gave Capital a 57-42 advantage with just over eight minutes to play.

The Crusaders knocked down 15-of-20 free throws, while Mount Union finished a perfect 13-for-13 from the line.

Ocke and freshman guard AJ Dixon (Hilliard, Ohio) combined for 13 points to lead Capital reserves.

The Crusaders return to action Wednesday at Wilmington. Tip-off is slated for 7:30 p.m. in Wilmington, Ohio.