Rushton scores 20 points in Men's Basketball 81-74 win at Muskingum

By: Andrew Korba

NEW CONCORD -- Senior Branden Rushton scored a team-high 20 points to lead the Ohio Northern men's basketball team to a 81-74 win at Muskingum on Saturday afternoon.

ONU moves to 12-9 on the season and 8-6 in the OAC, while the Muskies fall to 7-14, 2-12.

Rushton was 7-of-15 from the field and a perfect 4-of-4 from the stripe.

This is the eighth time this season that Rushton has scored at least 20 points.

Senior Jared Horstman added 10 points and seven rebounds, while freshman Devon Allen also reached double figure scoring with 10 points.

A jumper by Rushton with 2:02 left to play put ONU up 74-67.

Muskingum's Logan Kimble would sink two free throws to cut the Northern lead to 74-69 with just over a minute left.

But the Polar Bears went 7-for-8 in free throws in the final minute to grab the win.

Muskingum jumped out to an early 10-4 lead, before Northern scored the next five points to cut the deficit to 10-9.

A basket by freshman Aron Thress put the Polar Bears in front 15-14, with 14:30 left in the first half.

A 3-pointer by Allen pushed the ONU lead to 32-22, but the Muskies would trim the Northern lead to 40-34 at the half.

The Polar Bears finished 24-of-57 (42.1 percent) from the field and went 24-of-34 (70.6 percent) from the line.

Muskingum finished 27-of-61 (44.3 percent) in shooting and 15-of-21 (71.4 percent) from the charity stripe.

The Polar Bears won the rebounding battle 38-33.

ONU also saw its bench outscore Muskingum's 26-3 in the game.

Ohio Northern will return home on Wednesday evening, when it hosts Heidelberg at 7:30 pm.