ALLIANCE, Ohio -- Down 21 points with 18:32 to play, the Mount Union men's basketball team rallied but came up just short in an 80-78 loss to John Carroll Wednesday in an Ohio Athletic Conference matchup at the McPherson Academic and Athletic Complex in Alliance.

Corey Shontz had a career-high 30 points along with nine assists to lead John Carroll to 13-5 overall and 8-3 in the OAC.

The Blue Streaks, who hit nine of their 13 three-pointers in the first half as they built a 44-28 halftime lead, also got 13 points from Joey Meyer and 12 from Michael Harnett.

Dave Pellerite (Olmsted Falls/Olmsted Falls) had his sixth double-double of the season with a season-high 22 points and a career-best 15 rebounds in a valiant effort as Mount Union dropped to 8-10 overall and 6-5 in the OAC.

The Purple Raiders, who also got 15 points from both Jimmy Wood (Wintersville/Indian Creek) and T.J. Gillespie (Toledo/Toledo St. John's) and 14 off the bench from Matt Kiger (Williamstown, W.Va./Williamstown) ended up outscoring John Carroll, 50-36 in the second half but fell too far behind.

Mount Union out-rebounded John Carroll 41-29 but the Raiders managed to hit just 18-of-33 free throws.

Mount Union stays home and hosts Capital in the second half of an OAC doubleheader at 4 pm Saturday in The MAAC.   Admission is FREE and the game will be televised on SportsTime Ohio and WIVM Ch. 52 in Canton via tape delay.  Fans are encouraged to wear white as it is "Pack the MAAC" Day with face painting and sign making stations in the lobby.

NOTES
Pellerite now has 1,355 career points to pass Kyle Karpinski (1,348, 2002-06) for 6th all-time at Mount Union.