Matchup

No. 2 seed Mount Union will travel to No. 1 seed John Carroll for the Ohio Athletic Conference Men's Basketball Tournament Championship on Saturday, March 1 at 2 p.m. in University Heights, Ohio.

Fans can follow with the radio broadcast WDPN AM 1310 and online with Live Audio | Live Video | Live Stats

You can buy your tickets here.

The Purple Raiders (18-8, 14-4 OAC) are third in the OAC in scoring offense, averaging 78.0 points per game and are fourth in the OAC in scoring defense allowing just 71.3 points per game.

Fifth-year Christian Parker (Canton / GlenOak) leads the way for the Raiders, averaging 16.7 points per game which ranks fifth in the conference. Parker and sophomore Elijah Farrington (Massillon / Massillon Washington) rank second and third in the OAC in rebounding, with Farrington averaging 9.5 per game and Parker grabbing 7.8 per game, Farrington also ranks first in field goal percentage, shooting 61.1-percent from the floor. Senior Marcus Steele (Solon) leads Mount Union in assists, averaging 2.9 per game which puts him in the top 10 in the conference.

The Blue Streaks (21-5, 15-3 OAC) are second in the OAC in scoring offense, averaging 82.1 points per game and they rank third in conference in scoring defense allowing just 70.1 points per game.

Luke Frazier leads the way offensively for John Carroll averaging a 17 points per game, which is fourth in the OAC. Henry Raynor is tied for third in the OAC and leads the team in rebounds, averaging 7.8 per game, he also ranks second in the conference in field goal percentage, shooting 61-percent from the field. Chase Toppin leads the Blue Streaks in assists averaging 3.3 per game, which puts him in seventh in the OAC.

OAC Tournament History

It is the 65th OAC Tournament appearance for Mount Union as the Raiders have a 42-59 record and won titles in 1997, 2015, 2020 and 2023.

John Carroll is making its 35th OAC Tournament appearance with a 39-29 record and won titles in 2003, 2004, 2009, 2011, 2016, 2018 and 2024.

Mount Union and John Carroll have met 10 previous times in the OAC Tournament with the Blue Streaks holding a 6-4 lead in tournament games. This marks the second consecutive year and fourth time overall the teams will meet in the championship game.
 
2024 – No. 2 Mount Union 86, No. 1 John Carroll 88 OT (Finals)

2022 – No. 2 Mount Union 93, No. 10 John Carroll 65 (Quarterfinals)

2020- No. 1 Mount Union 85, No. 3 John Carroll 74 (Finals)

2019- No. 2 Mount Union 94, No. 6 John Carroll 84 (Second Round)

2016- No. 3 Mount Union 74, No. 2 John Carroll 93 (Semifinals)

2015- No. 3 Mount Union 89, No. 2 John Carroll 88 (OT) (Semifinals)

2014- No. 1 Mount Union 81, No. 5 John Carroll 83 (Semifinals)

2011- No. 7 Mount Union 68, No. John Carroll 75 (Quarterfinals)

2004- No. 6 Mount Union 74, No. 1 John Carroll 76 (Finals)

1994- No. 8 Mount Union 72, No. 1 John Carroll 100 (Quarterfinals)
 
Coaches

Mike Fuline (Kent State '98) is 261-113 (.698) in his 14th season at Mount Union.  Fuline has led Mount Union to six 20-win seasons, OAC regular season titles in 2013-14, 2018-19, 2019-20 and 2022-23, OAC Tournament titles in 2015, 2020 and 2023, NCAA Sweet 16 appearances in 2015 and 2020 and the NCAA National Championship game in 2023 and became the All-Time Winningest Coach in program history with his 251st career win earlier this season. Before coming to Mount Union, Fuline spent eight years as a high school head coach at Rootstown and Massillon Jackson.  His 2010 Jackson team won the OHSAA Division I State Championship.

Pete Moran (John Carroll '08) is 118-57 (.674) in his eighth season as head coach at John Carroll. Moran has led the Blue Streaks to four 20-win seasons in 2017-18, 2022-23 and 2023-24, where they also won the OAC Regular Season Championships in 2017-18, 2022-23 and 2023-24 and Tournament championships in 2018 and 2024 and had a NCAA Sweet 16 appearance in 2018. Before returning to John Carroll, Moran served as the head coach of Berkshire High School from 2008-11. He also served as an assistant coach under his father, Mike Moran at John Carroll for five seasons before being promoted to head coach.