COLUMBUS — Champions emerge from the face of adversity.
The Mount Union Purple Raiders know that all too well.
With one of the best players unable to finish the night and an upset-minded opponent hungry to spoil their celebration, Mount Union found one more spark to win the Ohio Athletic Conference men’s basketball championship. They Purple Raiders came from behind to beat Capital 75-63 on Wednesday, Feb. 18 to win the title outright and earn home-court advantage throughout next week’s OAC Tournament.
Back-to-back losses to Heidelberg and Ohio Northern created some barriers in Mount Union’s championship bid. The Purple Raiders (23-2, 14-2) regrouped and won their last seven regular season games to clinch their first title since 2023, the year they made it to the NCAA Division III national championship game.
“These things are so hard to win,” Mount Union head coach Mike Fuline said. “When you have so many young guys on a team, that’s what makes it exhausting.
“They found a way, and I can’t be more proud of a group of guys. They do care about each very much.”
The Purple Raiders were assured of at least a share of the OAC championship and the No. 1 seed in the conference tournament when the game ended. They were even in the OAC loss column with Otterbein but held the tiebreaker based on their season sweep of the Cardinals.
As they were leaving the Capital Center, they found out that Ohio Northern beat Otterbein 54-53. The outright OAC title was Mount Union’s.
“The regular season title means a lot,” Purple Raiders sophomore guard Jack Dunbar said. “That’s something we’ve had on our calendars all year.”
Dunbar played a big part in getting it done. Fueled by a big second half, he scored a career-high 18 points in 16 minutes off the bench on 7 of 9 shooting. He hit four 3s.
“He has no fear,” Fuline said. “He was ready to go. He wanted to win. You could see it.
“You’re not going to take his spark away, man. If he was open 10 times, he was shooting it 10 times. I’m very happy for him.”
Trailing by as many as five early in the second half, the Purple Raiders turned to Dunbar after starter Kevin Hamilton left with a back issue. Dunbar was ready.
“When I come in, my job is to bring juice, bring energy and do what I can to help this team win,” Dunbar said. “That’s all I do every night.”
Elijah Farrington also had a monster night for Mount Union. He finished with a double-double of 21 points and 14 rebounds.
Kevin Moore scored 13 points and Chance Casenhiser added 11 for the Purple Raiders, who will also have a bye in the OAC Tournament. They will host a semifinal game on Thursday, Feb. 26.
“We’re definitely not done,” Dunbar said. “It’s just a step on the ladder. We want to get to higher places. This is the first step to getting there.”
Here’s how the game unfolded through our live updates.
Mount Union beats Capital 75-63, wins share of Ohio Athletic Conference title
It was a struggle for awhile, but a share of the Ohio Athletic Conference regular season title and the No. 1 seed in the OAC Tournament belongs to Mount Union.
Elijah Farrington led the way with 21 points and 13 rebounds. Jack Dunbar finished with a career-high 18 points.
Jack Dunbar helps Mount Union inch closer to Ohio Athletic Conference title
Jack Dunbar is having himself a night. He has a career high 18 points for the Purple Raiders, who lead 69-57 with 3:43 left.
Mount Union tries to pull away … but can’t
Mount Union led by as many as 11, but Capital has scored six straight to get within 57-51 with 7:38 left.
Jack Dunbar bringing Mount Union energy off the bench
Jack Dunbar hits a step back 3 and tacks on two more on a Capital goal tennding call. Mount Union leads 51-46 with 11:16 left.
Dunbar replaced Kevin Hamilton, who left the game early in the second half with an apparent injury.
Mount Union regains lead early second half
Chance Casenhiser’s layup gives Mount union a 42-40 lead. The Purpel Raiders trailed by as many as five in the second half.
Am immediate concern is the status of guard Kevin Hamilton, who had to lead the game early in the half with an apparent injury.
Capital leads Mount Union 35-31 at halftime
The Comets aren’t going away and by now the Purple Raiders know it.
Elijah Farrington leads Mount union with 12 points on 5 of 7 shooting. Outside of him, the Purple Raiders are 8 of 29 from the field.
Capital grabs first lead of the night
Dallas Tucker’s step back 3 with 3:45 left in the first half pushes Capital ahead 28-27. It’s the Comets’ first lead of the night.
Capital staying close in first half
Capital (8-16, 3-11) may be in last place, but the Comets are dnow going down easy in the final game of the regular season. They trail Mount Union 20-19 with 6:56 in the first half.
Chance Casenhiser ends Mount Union 3-point drought
Chance Casenhiser fires in Mount Union’s first 3 of the night for a 15-10 Purple Raiders lead.
Mount Union missed its first four 3s.
Elijah Farrington gets Mount Union started
Mount Union leads 8-4 at the first official timeout. Elijah Farrington has six points for the Purple Raiders.
Farrington’s rebound and coast-to-coast dribble for a two-handed slam was a big highlight in Saturday’s overtime win over Wilmington. It looked like he had ideas of doing it again tonight, but he was fouled on his way to the
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This article originally appeared on The Repository: ‘He has no fear’ | Jack Dunbar helps lead Mount Union to OAC title
Reporting by Mike Popovich, Canton Repository / The Repository
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