ALLIANCE, Ohio - The University of Mount Union, ranked No. 5 in the most recent D3hoops.com Top 25 Poll, shot 54 percent from both the field and beyond the three-point arc in a 96-69 Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) victory over the Wilmington College men's basketball team at the McPherson Academic & Athletic Center on Saturday afternoon.
The Quakers took a 7-2 lead early on two-point baskets from Obed Achirem and Abdul Kanu with a three-pointer from Domenic Farley in between the two. The Purple Raiders regained the lead on a triple from Darrell Newsom, but a Gavin Heimlich long-distance jumper followed on the ensuing possession pulled the visitors within a point at 15-14 midway through the first half.
Abdul Kanu made a basket a minute later, but Mount Union answered with a 7-3 spurt capped by a Chris Painter basket out of a Purple Raider timeout at the 6:31 mark. Trailing by six, a Hunter Prince three-pointer pulled WC within four (30-26), but Mount Union ended the half on an 11-6 run.
Newsom connected from distance to open the second half, and after an Abdul Kanu layup made the score 44-34, but a 15-6 Purple Raider run that followed put the game away.
Mount Union finished 34-of-63 from the field along with making 12-of-22 from three-point range and 16-of-22 (72.7 percent) from the free throw line. 21 of the Purple Raiders' 34 baskets were assisted.
Wilmington shot 42.6 percent (26-of-61) from the field including 28.6 percent (6-of-21) from distance and 55.0 percent (11-of-20) from the free throw line. The Quakers won the rebounding battle 42-33.
Individually, four Purple Raiders scored in double figures with Jeffery Mansfield, who spent four years as a Quaker before transferring to Mount Union, leading the way with 14 points on 5-of-7 shooting. Newsom, Painter and Christian Parker also scored in double figures.
Kanu led the Quakers with 13 points in defeat while Achirem had nine points, 14 rebounds, two assists and two steals. Baker also finished with nine points.
Wilmington will have a week off for the Christmas holiday and return to action at the Christopher Newport Tournament on Dec. 29-30.
