ALLIANCE, Ohio – Diallo Niamke (Sagamore Hills/Nordonia) scored a career high as Mount Union lost to John Carroll, 82-78, in an Ohio Athletic Conference matchup Wednesday night in the McPherson Academic and Athletic Complex.

Niamke led the Purple Raiders with 27 points and 11 total rebounds with JJ Kukura (Alliance/Alliance) right behind him with 21 points as Mount Union falls to 11-7 overall and 6-5 in the OAC. 

John Carroll (11-6, 8-3 OAC) was led by Davdi Linane who posted 25 points.  

The Raiders and the Blue Streaks had nine ties and seven lead changes in the first half of the game. as Mount Union was down 12-7 in the first four minutes of the game.  The Raiders went on a 9-3 run to put them ahead by one, 16-15.

John Carroll went up by five, 25-20, but the Raiders answered with five points from Tommy Stenger (North Canton/Hoover) to tie the game at 25. A Niamke jumper put the Raiders up by two, 41-39, leading the Blue Streaks going into the break.

Mount Union kept a three point lead in the first three minutes of the second half until John Carroll went on a 14-6 run to get a six point lead, 53-47, with 14:30 to go.

The Blue Streaks pulled for a 13 point lead over the Raiders, 66-52, at the 8:40 mark. A 14-4 run for Mount Union got them within four points of John Carroll, 70-66.

Two free throws by Kukura and a lay-up by Niamke brought the Raiders within two points, 77-75, with 2:03 to go. With another Niamke lay-up, the Raiders tied the game up at 77. 

Mount Union did not score from the 1:34 mark on as John Carroll won 82-78. 

The Raiders next travel to Wilmington, Ohio to take on the Fightin Quakers Saturday, January 28 at 3:00 p.m.