ALLIANCE, Ohio - Mount Union senior Nate Jacubec (Struthers/Struthers) scored his 1,000th career point and the Purple Raiders defended their home court with an 81-67 win over Capital on Tuesday in the McPherson Academic and Athletic Complex.

Jacubec entered the game needing only six points to reach the milestone and did so on his second three-pointer of the game with 9:36 remaining in the first half. Jacubec finished the game with 15 points and is now 27th in scoring in the program's history.

The Purple Raiders (5-2, 4-0 OAC) were led in scoring by junior Jarrett Ruffin (Northfield/Nordonia) with a game-high 22 points to go along with five rebounds. Sophomore DeAllen Jackson (Akron/Archbishop Hoban) and  junior Cody Dillon (Newton Falls/Newton Falls) also reached double figures with 17 and 11 points, respectively.

Capital (4-6, 2-2 OAC) was led by Josh Pullner with a team-high 16 points and eight rebounds.

Capital jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first two minutes of the game before Mount Union responded with a 10-0 run to take the lead. A 6-0 run by the Crusaders gave the game its first tie at 10-10 with 12:22 left in the half.

Capital closed the first half on an 11-5 run to lead 33-26 at the half.

The Raiders came out of the lockerroom and hit their first six shots from the floor in the opening eight minutes of the half to tied the score at 44-44 with 13:22 left in the game. From that point on the Crusaders would never lead as Mount Union went on a 13-3 to open up a 10 point lead.

In the final minutes of the game the Raiders lengthened their lead to as many as 16 points by shooting 11-for-13 from the free throw line, before going on for the 81-67 victory. 

The men's basketball team will cross state lines as they travel to Holland, Mich to play Olivet (Dec. 19) and Hope (Dec. 20) this weekend.