Freshman Devon Allen's career-high 21 points lead Men's Basketball past John Carroll 97-80

By Caleb Scott

ADA — Freshman Devon Allen scored a career-high 21 points to help lead the Ohio Northern men's basketball team to a 97-80 victory over John Carroll Sunday afternoon at the ONU Sports Center.

Ohio Northern improves its record to 9-8 overall and 5-5 in Ohio Athletic Conference play. John Carroll falls to 11-6, 5-5.

Allen scored 16 of his game-high 21 points in the second half.

Junior Isaiah Roux finished the game with 16 points and six rebounds while junior Lucas Pennington chipped in 13 points and a game high seven rebounds.

Senior Branden Rushton added 13 points for the Polar Bears and pulled down six rebounds.

A jumper by Rushton would cap an 11-2 run by the Polar Bears to give them their biggest lead of the first half at 37-15 with 7:49 to go.

ONU shot 18-of-36 (50 percent) in the first half to help take a 46-28 lead into intermission.

The Polar Bear defense forced 15 John Carroll turnovers for the game, resulting in 21 points off turnovers.

A free throw by Allen would give Ohio Northern its biggest lead of the day at 75-46 with 9:59 to go in the game.

"We always talk about getting better everyday and today was very encouraging," said head coach Kevin Byrne. "It helps having two guys in Devon Allen and Isaiah Roux playing the best they have this season."

The Polars Bears did not trail in the game. ONU shot 51.6 percent from the field on 32-of-62 shooting and 8-of-18 (44.4 percent) from beyond the arc.

John Carroll shot 30-of-71 (42.3 percent) from the field and 7-of-26 (26.9 percent) from three point range.

ONU held the advantage on the boards 40-33

The Polar Bears will be back in action on Wednesday at 7:30 pm as they travel to Berea to take on Baldwin Wallace.