NEW CONCORD, Ohio – The Capital University men's basketball team trekked through the snow to New Concord on Wednesday, matching up with Muskingum. In a close contest, the Comets were able to get back on track, pulling ahead of the Muskies in the final seconds to secure a 64-63 win on the road.

Capital moves to 10-8 on the season, with a 6-5 standing in the conference.

Muskingum falls to 1-17 overall and 1-10 in the OAC.


HOW IT HAPPENED
It was a slow start for Capital as they quickly fell into a 13-0 hole in the first three minutes. Even after the Comets were able to get their first points on the board, it was a slow and steady road back. Muskingum maintained at least a ten point advantage for the better part of the half. Nearing the end of the period, Cap pulled back within five. A key player in the comeback was junior Nate Gerber. Gerber accounted for 10 points in the first twenty minutes with two three-pointers and a perfect 4-for-4 from the charity stripe. At the break, the game was still well within reach with the Comets down by just four, 32-28.

The battle back continued in the second half, but the Comets soon found themselves in a deeper hole, again down by an average of ten for the better part of the period. Finally, the Comets found they're fire around the ten minute mark, turning a 10-point Muskingum lead on its head and tying the game in just two minutes and ten seconds. At 7:33 it was a brand new ballgame, and the men from Columbus held the momentum. The fleeting minutes were a back-and-forth affair to say the least, with the Comets keeping ahead by just a couple points. In the end, it all came down to the wire with the Muskie reclaiming the lead 63-62, with just 20 seconds left. However, Capital was not to be counted out, and with 0:03 on the clock, Carter Combs found Justin Nixon who laid it in to put the Comets back ahead 64-63. Griffin Doseck sealed the deal with a last second steal to confirm a 64-63 victory. 

The hero of the second half was Nixon who knocked down 5-of-6 from the field for 13 points – including the game-winning bucket – with six rebounds, two assists, one steal, and one block.


THE NUMBERS
Justin Nixon's 13 led the team in scoring. Nixon also notched a team-high seven rebounds, three assists, and two steals, with an additional block.

Nate Gerber got a career-high in points, scoring 12. Gerber also grabbed four rebounds, one assist, and one block.

McKane Finkenbine managed double-digits with 11 points and a career-high three three-pointers. The freshman guard also got three assists, two rebounds, and one steal.

Kaleb Crawford, Dom Moegerle, and Carter Combs all scored seven points. Crawford also collected six rebounds and three assists. Moegerle managed an additional three rebounds, one block, and one steal. Finally, Combs collected four rebounds and one assist.


THE OPPONENT
Points - Logan Stotzer (13)
Rebounds - Duane Davis (9)
Assists - Duane Davis (8)
Steals - Zaveon Croff (2)


UP NEXT
The Comets will be back at the Cap Center on Friday, January 27 for a big time battle with No. 8 John Carroll. That game will tip-off at 7:00 p.m.