ALLIANCE, Ohio— The Mount Union men's basketball team defeated Wilmington 84-74 in an Ohio Athletic Conference matchup Saturday afternoon at Timken Gymnasium.

In a battle of unbeaten OAC teams, the Purple Raiders improve to 6-2 overall and 3-0 in OAC play, while the loss drops Wilmington to 3-6 overall and 2-1 in the OAC.

Sophomore Collen Gurley (Akron / Hoban) scored 24 of his career-high 26 in the second half to pace the Raiders to a 22-8 run over the final eight minutes of the game.

Three other Raiders scored in double figures as senior Nathan Bower-Malone (Stow) had 18 while freshman Chris Painter Jr. (Akron / St. Vincent-St. Mary) and senior Logan Hill (Massillon / Massillon Jackson) added 12 and 11 off the bench respectively.

In the first half both teams traded baskets until an 8-0 run gave Wilmington its largest lead of the game, 10-3, with 15:04 left in the first half.

Mount Union battled back and tied the game on three separate occasions and took the lead with 3:07 left in the first half on a Bower-Malone free throw. Wilmington took the lead back on the next possession with a jump shot from Jeffery Mansfield and led 37-35 at halftime.

Wilmington had a lead of 66-62 with 7:58 left when a Painter started an 8-0 run for the Raiders with a three in the corner and finished it with a thunderous dunk.

Gurley then scored 12 of the Raiders' last 14 points to finish the game.

Mount Union out-rebounded Wilmington 43 to 23.

The Raiders play next in the Land of Magic Classic in Daytona Beach, Fla. against Alfred (N.Y.) Dec. 28 at 4 p.m. and Union (N.Y.) Dec. 29 at 6 p.m.