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MENTOR, Ohio– The Ohio Bruins were able to come out of halftime and put together a myriad of runs to open up the game. That proved to be the difference as the Bruins were able to outlast the Buckets, 128-114.
The Ohio Bruins were able to start the game off with a lead. Then came Justin Fritts and Gabe Kynard helping the Buckets get within striking distance. They eventually took a four-point lead with just over two minutes left in the opening quarter—their targets lead of the first half.
The final two minutes were filled with turnovers and missed opportunities for the Buckets. The Bruins—led by Jay Farrow and Brandon Wilkins–ended the first quarter on a 14-2 run in the closing two minutes.
Justin Fritts started to find a rhythm in the second quarter. Midway through the quarter, Fritts made three straight 3-pointers, ultimately giving them the lead after climbing back all quarter. He and Gabe Kynard were the reason why they regained the lead closing out the first half, eventually taking a 65-61 lead at halftime.
Frits closed out the first half knocking down six 3-pointers, leading the team with 22 points while Kynard had 18 at the break. The two of them had 40 of the team’s 65 first-half points.
“The two of them were the hot hands tonight, just had to give it to them,” head coach Patrick Koenig said. “They were both making shots, Gabe was doing a good job getting to the rim and collapsing the defense.”
Cameron Mitchell started to catch fire for the Bruins to start the second half. He had a personal 7-0 run that helped the Bruins regain a 76-72 lead midway through the third quarter. A slew of Bruins was able to capitalize in the transition game as the Bruin lead got as high as 14 points in the third quarter– leading 99-85 heading into the fourth quarter.
“They made their run and we made our run. It’s a game of runs,” Koenig said about the third and fourth quarter scoring runs.
Justin Fritts was able to stay hot in the fourth quarter to once again claw the Buckets back. At one point, he made three straight 3-pointers, getting his team back within two points under four minutes left.
That’s as close as the Buckets would get late in the fourth quarter as the Bruins ended the final 3:30 on a 15-3 run. Fritts ended the night with a game-high 38 points along with 30 from Gabe Kynard.
It’s the team’s fourth consecutive loss and with the loss, have now been swept by the Bruins after losing 110-102 back on Nov. 28.
It’s been a learning curve as of late and Koenig has taken away a few things heading down the closing stretch of the regular season.
“As a coach, sometimes to just stay out of the way and continue to let them make plays, Koenig said about what he’s learned with his group of guys during the last couple of games. “My mindset as a coach is to continue to give these guys a little bit of structure and to go let them make plays and to be themselves.”
Next up for the Buckets is a matchup against the Akron Aviators on Feb. 12.
