By: Ryan Gasser, sports information director

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Capital University men's basketball team overcame a 21-point deficit to tie the game and give the team a chance at overcoming the Yellow Jackets of Baldwin Wallace University. However, one clutch bucket on the other end set into motion the final breakaway that led the Jackets to a 67-62 victory over the Crusaders at The Capital Center on Friday night.

ADDITIONAL INFO
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A NOT-SO-NOTEWORTHY FIRST HALF

• The game did not start so soundly for the Crusaders following a first half in which the Yellow Jackets outscored them 42-24.
• Capital shot just 37.9 percent (11-29) from field-goal range while Baldwin Wallace shot 64 percent (16-25) and 6-of-12 from 3-point range.
• Baldwin Wallace also had a plus-seven rebounding advantage over the Crusaders, which helped overcome its eight turnovers.
• Cap found itself stuck on 11 points for nearly three minutes of game time but also only allowed six points to be score during that stretch. Baldwin Wallace did slowly build a 13-3 run that brought its first double-digit lead of the game.
• The Crusaders again were stuck on a single number over another three-minute stretch but this time the Yellow Jackets took advantage, mounting an 8-0 run that doubled Cap's point total, 36-18. Baldwin Wallace took an 18-point lead into the locker room after holding the Crusaders scoreless for the remaining 1:56 of the half.

BUT IN THE SECOND …

• No real progress had been made over the first seven minutes of the first half. With 13:30 left in the second, Baldwin Wallace found itself up 51-32. But that was about to change.
• The momentum began to shift when sophomore Reed Bradfield slammed one of his three dunks in the game. Senior Ganiyu Yahaya then came back down on the next possession and let a 3-point shot fly and the make cut the deficit to 14 points.
• A second Bradfield dunk in a span of two minutes got the home fans on their feet and the Crusaders back in business. Down just 11, 51-39, Capital began its march back into contention.
• Though BW answered with three consecutive makes the Crusaders were not deterred. Junior Cameron Caldwell turned a BW turnover into an easy two points and then Bradfield put home his third dunk of the half to tip the meter back into Cap's favor.
• The Yellow Jackets were stuck on 57 points for nearly four minutes and in the meantime, Capital rattled off 11 consecutive points to cut the BW lead to nine.
• Ganiyu Yahaya hit back-to-back triples to make it a two-possession game, 62-58, with 1:25 remaining on the clock.
• A foul sent Bradfield to the free-throw line for two resulting in two makes, and after a BW miss on the other end, Caldwell came down and hit a short-range shot to tie the game at 62 all with 1:18 to go in the game.
• Facing their third overtime contest in as many games, the Yellow Jackets eliminated that threat when Michael Quiring hit a key 3-point shot from the near wing with a defender in his face to give BW a 65-62 lead. The Yellow Jackets then fouled Cap to prevent an attempt to tie, but Caldwell missed the first free throw of a one-and-one which induced a Cap foul and sent BW to the line for what would be the clinching free throws.

KEY PLAYERS AND NUMBERS

• Reed Bradfield (Dixie Heights, Ky. / Dixie Heights) ended the game with his fifth 20-plus point game of the season, ending the evening with 22 plus five rebounds and two blocks.
• Ganiyu Yahaya (Abuja, Nigeria / Wesleyan Christian) had a solid line behind 19 points, eight rebounds and three steals.
• Luke Schaefer led the Yellow Jackets with 17 points and was one of three BW players with 10 or more points. He also led the team with seven rebounds.
• The shooting percentages balanced out after BW ended the night shooting 43.9 percent while Cap shot 41.3 percent. BW held the advantage in the 3-point game hit 9-of-20 (.450) while Cap hit just 4-of-16 (.250)

NEXT TIME OUT

Capital (12-11, 8-8 OAC) will play the second of three consecutive home games to finish out the regular season on Wednesday, February 19 against Wilmington College. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. from The Capital Center.

With all remaining weekend OAC action taking place on Saturday, Capital currently is seventh in the OAC standings after entering the evening tied for fourth. With two games left to play and three for the remaining conference teams yet to hit the floor, they still are in the conversation for a home game in the first round of the conference tournament.