ALLIANCE, Ohio – The Capital University men's basketball team traveled for the final time in the regular season on Friday night, facing off with No. 4 ranked Mount Union Purple Raiders.
Capital certainly faced a tough task on the road and kept it fairly close for a good part of the first half. However, Mount Union made use of extra possessions to push out to a 22 point lead at the break. That lead would have stayed steady in the second half had it not been for a solid effort from the Comets in the final seven minutes to rally a 13-2 run, bringing the difference down to 11. Unfortunately, that would be as close as Capital would get as the game ended with a 12-point separation on the scoreboard, 73-61.
Capital falls to 11-12 on year and 7-9 in the OAC.
Mount Union moves on to 21-2 and 14-2 in conference play.
THE NUMBERS
Carter Combs had a solid showing, leading the Comets in points (12), rebounds (8), three-pointers made (4), assists (4), and steals (3).
Kaleb Crawford registered nine points, two rebounds, and two steals.
McKane Finkenbine made his first career start for the Comets, finishing with six points and tied for the team-lead in assists with four. His back-to-back three-pointers aided the 13-2 run in the second half with the latter bringing the deficit down to 11 and forcing Mount Union to take a timeout. Finkenbine also added four rebounds, one block, and one steal to his totals.
Justin Nixon and
Griffin Doseck each had six points as well. Nixon notched an additional five rebounds, one assist, and one steal. Doseck added four rebounds -- the first of which was his 400th career rebound -- and a steal. He has now eclipsed both 500 career points and 400 career rebounds in his senior season.
Ryan Suever secured the second-most rebounds with seven total, just behind Combs. Scoring-wise, Suever had four points with an additional two assists and one steal.
THE OPPONENT
Points - Collen Gurley (15)
Assists - Jeffery Mansfield (6)
Rebounds - Christian Parker (14)
Blocks - Christian Parker (3)
Steals - Darrell Newsom (3)
UP NEXT
Capital returns to the Cap Center next week for one final homestand to end off the regular season. The Comets first face Marietta on Wednesday, February 15 at 7:00 p.m. followed by Senior Day against Baldwin Wallace on Saturday at 2:00 p.m.
