ALLIANCE, Ohio – No. 18 ranked Mount Union rebounded back after a slow start to defeat Wilmington, 82-79 in an Ohio Athletic Conference men's basketball game Saturday at Fred Raizk in Wilmington, Ohio.

The Purple Raiders have won eight out of their last nine games and are 10-3, 6-0 in the OAC and are still tied atop the conference standings with No. 7 John Carroll. 

Mount Union had three players in double figures as J.J. Kukura (Alliance/Alliance) scored a game-high 26 points, Jake Jacubec (Struthers/Struthers) had 17 and Jarrett Ruffin (Northfield/Nordonia) scored 11.

Wilmington (1-10, 0-6 OAC) got 14 points each from Zach McCorkle and Brandon Smith.

The Quakers jumped out to a four point lead, 15-11, in the first five minutes and pushed that lead to as many as 13 points, 47-34 with 1:40 left in the half.  Mount Union scored four of the last six points of the half to trail, 49-38 at the break.

In the second half, Jacubec hit a three pointer which started a 11-2 run in the first four minutes, which tied the game up at 49. Five minutes later, Mount Union gained its first lead, 67-65, on a layup by Kukura with 10:25 left in the game. The Raiders would lead by as many as eight but Wilmington would rally to get it to with a bucket with 2.1 seconds left before Ruffin hit a free throw for the 82-79 final. 

Mount Union will be back in OAC action next Wednesday, Jan. 13 at 7:30 p.m. when it hosts Muskingum at the MAAC.

 Newspaper Box Score

 Mount Union vs. Wilmington (OH)

 1/9/2016 3:00 p.m. at Wilmington, OH-Raizk Arena in Hermann Ct

 Mount Union 82, Wilmington (OH) 79

 Mount Union (10-3, 6-0 OAC)

 JJ Kukura 7-16 11-12 26; Jake Jacubec 6-9 2-3 17; Jarrett Ruffin 3-9 5-8 11; Kyle Scelza 2-6 2-2 8; Taylor Moore 2-3 3-4 7; Josh Duerr 0-1 4-6 4; Cody Dillon 1-8 0-0 3; Zach Neuenschwander 1-1 0-0 2; Michael Shull 0-1 2-2 2; Andrew Francesconi 1-3 0-0 2;

 Totals 23-57 29-37 82.

 Wilmington (OH) (1-10, 0-6 OAC)

 Brandon Smith 5-7 1-3 14; Zach McCorkle 6-12 2-2 14; Nathan Scott 4-7 0-0 11; D.J . Iles 2-4 4-6 9; Andrew Russell 2-6 2-2 8; Will Patrick 3-7 0-0 7; Jordan Jones 3-5 0-0 7; Malcolm Pittman 2-3 0-0 4; Connor Casey 1-1 0-0 3; Chris Jackson 1-1 0-0 2; Christian Jones 0-7 0-0 0;

 Totals 29-60 9-13 79.

 3 point goals -- Mount Union 7-24  (Jake Jacubec 3-4; Kyle Scelza 2-6; JJ Kukura 1-3; Cody Dillon 1-7; Jarrett Ruffin 0-1; Michael Shull 0-1; Andrew Francesconi 0-2;), Wilmington (OH)  12-29 (Nathan Scott 3-5; Brandon Smith 3-5; Andrew Russell 2-6; D.J . Iles 1-2; Jordan Jones 1-1; Will Patrick 1-4; Connor Casey 1-1; Zach McCorkle 0-1; Christian Jones 0-4;). Fouled out -- Mount Union - None, Wilmington (OH) - None. Rebounds -- Mount Union 47 (Jarrett Ruffin 9), Wilmington (OH) 24 (Zach McCorkle 6). Assists -- Mount Union 8 (Josh Duerr 2), Wilmington (OH) 21 (D.J . Iles 7). Total fouls -- Mount Union 15, Wilmington (OH) 26. Technical fouls -- Mount Union 0, Wilmington (OH) 0. A-219

 Team         1st  2nd  Tota

 Mount Union   38   44   82

 Wilmington (  49   30   79