WESTERVILLE, Ohio – The Mount Union men's basketball team forced five shot clock violations en route to a 74-65 victory over the Otterbein Cardinals in Ohio Athletic Conference play Saturday afternoon at the Rike Center.

The Purple Raiders (14-1, 7-1 OAC) were led by senior Braedon Poole (McDonald) with 23 points and 7 rebounds. Senior Darrell Newsom (Twinsburg) scored double digits with 12 points.

Otterbein (9-6, 3-5 OAC) was led by Cam Evans with 16 points and 6 rebounds.

Mount Union began the game on an 8-3 run in which Poole had 4 quick points. Both teams traded baskets until the 14:12 mark in the first half. Otterbein went on an 7-0 run to go up 15 to 12 with 11:29 to play in the first half of play. Mount Union answered with a 7-0 run which included 5 points from Hudson to give Mount Union the lead.

Poole scored 7 points over the last 3:25 as Mount Union finished the half on a 13-4 run. The Purple Raiders forced the Cardinals to 3 straight shot clock violation penalties to spark the offense.

Senior Collen Gurley (Akron/Hoban) hit a 3 with 14:51 left in the second half to put the Raiders up 44-39, but Otterbein went on an 11-2 run to take a 50-46 lead. Mount Union used a 16-4 run to open up the lead to 62 to 54 with 6:01 remaining as freshman Dante Collier (Columbus/Licking Heights) and Newsom scored five points each in the run. Over the final six minutes, Mount Union got its largest lead with 55 seconds left in the game on a free throw from Collier.

Mount Union shot 19 of 21 from the free throw line to ice the game down the stretch.

Mount Union's next game is in New Concord as they travel take on Muskingum on Wednesday the 18th at 7 p.m.