ADA, Ohio -- Mount Union's men's basketball team could not overcome a 19-point first half deficit as the Purple Raiders suffered a 74-65 Ohio Athletic Conference loss Saturday at Ohio Northern in Ada.

The Purple Raiders found themselves down 38-19 with 2:10 to go in the first half and scored five of the final seven points of the half to trail 40-24 at the break.

Mount Union chipped away throughout the second half and a Matt Wier (New Castle, Pa./Mohawk) layup with 36 seconds left closed the gap to three points, 68-65, but Ohio Northern made six-straight free throws to put the game away.

Jimmy Wood (Wintersville/Indian Creek) scored a game-high 18 points, Wier came off the bench with 13 and Dave Pellerite (Olmsted Falls/Olmsted Falls) tallied 11 to lead the Raiders, who fell to 9-14 overall and 7-9 in the OAC.

Scott Schnelle had 14 points as all five starters scored in double figures for Ohio Northern (11-12, 8-8 OAC).

Mount Union travels to Baldwin-Wallace next Wednesday (Feb. 16) with tip off at 7:30 pm from Berea.