The Outlook

In a clash of evenly matched squads, free throw shooting eventually determined the outcome.  Urbana overcame a double-digit second half deficit, but missed foul shots in the waning minutes cost the home team dearly.  Behind a 13-3 run, the Blue Knights closed a 10-point gap and evened the game at 54 with 7:18 to play.  A Raegan Ryan three with 1:19 left gave the Yellow Jackets a 62-59 lead, but Urbana answered on a trey by Jackie Cousineau.  In the final 30 seconds, Cedarville’s Lauryn Robinson and Urbana’s DeVonyea Johnson traded buckets, leaving the Yellow Jackets 17 seconds to set up a final shot in regulation.  That shot fell short when Johnson got a piece of the ball, sending the game into overtime.

In the extra frame, Cedarville outscored Urbana 8-3 thanks to a 4 for 4 performance at the line by leading scorer Kayla Jennerette.  Urbana, meanwhile, made just 1 of their 4 attempts from the charity stripe in OT.  With 1:07 to play and the Blue Knights trailing 68-67, Jessica Saffold came up with a pair of offensive rebounds.  She was fouled on her second shot attempt, but she missed both free throws.  Jennerette answered with a lay-up on the other end of the floor, and the Yellow Jackets held on for the 5-point win.

Jennerette scored 6 of her 20 points in the overtime period to lead the Yellow Jackets.  As a team, Cedarville shot 17 of 19 (89.5%) from the foul line.  Urbana converted just 12 of their 21 free throws (57.1%).  The Blue Knights were led by Johnson’s game-high 21 points and 7 assists.  Freshman Katy Barkley notched 17 before fouling out in the extra frame.

The victory clinched the top seed for Cedarville in the post-season D-II Ohio Independents’ Championship.  The Yellow Jackets improve to 17-7 and 9-1 vs. OIC opponents.  Their only OIC loss came three weeks ago to the Blue Knights.  Urbana upset the Yellow Jackets 79-76 in Cedarville.

Urbana moves to 12-13 overall and 7-5 in the OIC standings.  The loss was the first at home for new Head Coach Maria Marchesano.  Marchesano took over the program before the January 7th home game against Notre Dame College, helping orchestrate the squad’s longest home winning streak in three years.

Next, Urbana completes its regular season schedule on the road on Tuesday night.  The Blue Knights travel to nearby Ohio Dominican University for a 5:30 p.m. tip.  

Mitchell’s 33 Points, Late Free Throws Sink Salem
SALEM, West Virginia (February 18, 2012) – Four weeks after falling by 11 points at home to Salem International University, the Urbana University men’s basketball took down the Tigers on their home floor 95-93 in overtime.  Junior guard Ramel Mitchell (Akron, Ohio/Firestone HS) scored a career-high 33 points, including 4 straight free throws in the final 28 seconds to deliver the win to the Blue Knights.
Mitchell’s 33 points are the most by a Blue Knight since David Brown scored 38 in December of 2008.  He made 10 of 17 from the field, including 6 of 10 from behind the arc.  He also sank all 7 of his foul shots, including Urbana’s last two points of regulation and their last four points of OT.  

Urbana overcame a 9-point deficit with a little over 9 minutes to play.  An 8-0 run fueled by 6 points from senior Dyrell Dolson tied the game at 69 with 6:27 to play.  On their next possession, a Danny Goins three gave the visitors their first lead of the second half.  

With 1:17 to play, Mitchell knocked down a pair of foul shots to give Urbana an 84-81 lead.  Salem sent the game into overtime on a Marcus Ludy layup and a Walter Brock free throw with 9 seconds to play.  

In the extra frame, Mitchell took over.  The Blue Knights took the lead on a steal and score by Mitchell with 3 minutes to play.  Then, with the game tied at 91, Mitchell drew a foul and calmly sank both foul shots with 28 seconds to play.  Brock tied it with a jumper 13 seconds later, but the Tigers again fouled Mitchell, who sank both free throws on Urbana’s next possession.

Salem’s final look was a Kendall Holt three at the buzzer, but the game-winner would not fall as Urbana exacted its revenge for last month’s 11-point loss.  

Four other Blue Knights besides Mitchell reached double figures.  Reigning Blue Knight Student-Athlete of the Week Sharif Muhammad Jr. scored 20 on 8 of 11 shooting.  The senior forward also notched 9 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals and 2 blocked shots on the afternoon.  Dolson had 12 points and 3 steals.  Senior Marcus Pearl poured in 11 to go with 4 assists and 4 rebounds, and Goins finished with 10 off the bench for the Blue Knights.

Urbana (7-17) returns home on Wednesday night for their regular season home finale.  The Blue Knights welcome fellow Ohio Independent Walsh University to the Grimes Center for a 7:00 p.m. tip-off.  Walsh waxed the Blue Knights 91-64 in Canton back on December 14th.