ALLIANCE, Ohio – Sophomore Evan Keeslar (Uniontown/Green) notched a career-high 18 points in Mount Union's 90-79 win over Baldwin Wallace Wednesday evening, December 18, in an Ohio Athletic Conference men's basketball matchup in the McPherson Academic and Athletic Complex.

The Purple Raiders improve to 6-2 overall and 4-0 in the OAC as the Yellow Jackets drop to 5-3 overall and 2-2 in the OAC.

Mount Union was led in scoring by senior T.J. Gillespie (Toledo/Toledo St. John's) as he had 20 points in the victory. Gillespie and Keeslar (18) were two of five Raiders in double digits as sophomore's Cody Dillon (Newton Falls/Newton Falls) and Jarrett Ruffin (Northfield/Nordonia) each recorded 12 points and junior Nate Jacubec (Struthers/Struthers) rounded out the double digit scorers with 10 points.

Baldwin Wallace junior Jaron Crowe ripped-off a career-high 27 points in the loss as senior Kyle Payne joined Crowe in double figures with 15 points.

After the 3-3 tie within the first two minutes of play, the Raiders charged out to a 11-3 lead over the next two and a half minutes. The Yellow Jackets erased the deficit with an 11-4 run to the 13:04 mark to come within one point, 15-14 in favor of Mount Union. The score would remain close for the rest of the half as the Raiders would go into the break with an eight point lead, 45-37.

The second half would see one tie at the 14:34 mark, as Baldwin Wallace started the half off on a 15-7 run to bring the game to 52-52. Both teams exchanged buckets for the next eight minutes before Gillespie hit a three to put the Raiders up by five, 69-64 at the 6:03 mark. The Yellow Jackets would get as close as two points two times, at 2:19 (77-75) and at 1:37 (79-77), before Mount Union sealed the game with an 11-2 run to go on for the 90-79 victory.

Mount Union will return to the hardwood after the short break as they host the M-Club Classic on Saturday, December 28 and Sunday, December 29. The Purple Raiders start play in the classic at 7:00 p.m. on the 28th against Adrian (Mich.) and then take on Olivet (Mich.) on the 29th at 3:00 p.m.

Newspaper Box Score

Baldwin Wallace vs Mount Union

12/18/13 7:30 PM at Alliance, Ohio - MAAC

MOUNT UNION 90, BALDWIN WALLACE 79

BALDWIN WALLACE (5-3, 2-2 OAC)

Jaron Crowe 9-15 5-6 27; Kyle Payne 5-13 3-6 15; Grant Fairhurst 3-9 0-0 9; Kevin Krakowiak 3-9 2-2 9; Matt Dennis 3-5 1-2 7; Aaron Selmek 2-2 0-0 4; Skyler Simpson 1-1 0-0 3; Jaelen Hollinger 1-3 1-2 3; Tyler Ferrell 0-2 2-2 2; Zack Brandy 0-4 0-0 0. Totals 27-63 14-20 79.

MOUNT UNION (6-2, 4-0 OAC)

TJ Gillespie 6-12 5-6 20; Evan Keeslar 6-10 5-5 18; Cody Dillon 4-10 1-1 12; Jarrett Ruffin 5-7 0-0 12; Nate Jacubec 2-8 4-4 10; Jimmy Darnley 3-3 3-4 9; Kyle Scelza 2-3 0-0 5; Michael Shull 0-0 2-2 2; Jeff Foreman 1-4 0-0 2; Lucas Supan 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 29-57 20-22 90.

Baldwin Wallace............... 37 42 - 79

Mount Union................... 45 45 - 90

3-point goals--Baldwin Wallace 11-33 (Jaron Crowe 4-8; Grant Fairhurst 3-9; Kyle Payne 2-5; Kevin Krakowiak 1-3; Skyler Simpson 1-1; Zack Brandy 0-3; Tyler Ferrell 0-2; Jaelen Hollinger 0-2), Mount Union 12-23 (Cody Dillon 3-4; TJ Gillespie 3-6; Jarrett Ruffin 2-2; Nate Jacubec 2-5; Evan Keeslar 1-2; Kyle Scelza 1-2; Jeff Foreman 0-2). Fouled out--Baldwin Wallace-Matt Dennis, Mount Union-None. Rebounds--Baldwin Wallace 30 (Matt Dennis 6; Kyle Payne 6), Mount Union 36 (Kyle Scelza 6). Assists--Baldwin Wallace 10 (Jaron Crowe 5), Mount Union 15 (TJ Gillespie 5). Total fouls--Baldwin Wallace 21, Mount Union 18. Technical fouls--Baldwin Wallace-None, Mount Union-Cody Dillon. A-421