ALLIANCE, Ohio— The Mount Union men's basketball team defeated Ohio Northern 81-60 Saturday afternoon at the Timken Gymnasium.

The Purple Raiders improve to 5-2 overall and 2-0 in OAC play while Ohio Northern drops to 2-3 overall and 0-1 in the OAC.

Mount Union shot 54.7 percent from the field including 10 of 17 from the three ball.

Sophomore Collen Gurley (Akron / Hoban) paced the Purple Raiders with 18 points with senior teammates D'Vontay Friga (Cuyahoga Falls) and Logan Hill (Massillon / Massillon Jackson) scoring 16 and 15 respectively.

In the first half both teams traded baskets until an 8-0 run sparked by a steal from Hill and a layup by senior Nathan Bower-Malone (Stow) put the Raiders in control 27-18.

Gurley had 13 of his team leading 18 in the first half to give the Riders a 41-33 lead.

Mount Union started the second half on a 7-4 run thanks to a layup and a jumper made by senior Tanner Slack (New Concord / John Glenn) and a Gurley three to make the lead 48-35.

Ohio Northern got within nine 48-39 but the Raiders pulled away getting a lead of 78-53 as thier largest.

Mount Union forced 14 turnovers while only having seven and outscored Ohio Northern's bench 45-9.

The Raiders stay at home to host Wilmington in an OAC game next Saturday Dec. 14 at 3 p.m. in Timken Gymnasium.