The Muskingum men's basketball team suffered a heartbreaking loss in the Ohio Athletic Conference Tournament Final Four at Ohio Northern on Thursday night, 81-75.

The Basics

• Records: Muskingum (5-9), Ohio Northern (5-6)
• Location: ONU Sports Center - Ada, Ohio

Notables

• The contest marked the final game for Muskingum senior Mitch Clark. Clark ended his Muskie tenure playing in 62 career games and averaging 6.9 points and 3.8 rebounds per outing.

Inside The Numbers

• Senior Alex Masinelli led the Muskies with a career-high 25 points. He connected on 11-of-16 shots and added nine rebounds and three assists.
• Junior Trey Singleton added 15 points and grabbed six rebounds.
• Junior MJ Smith chipped in 14 points,
• As a team, the Muskies shot 28-of-68 (.412) from the field and went 6-of-27 (.222) from behind the arc.
• Brandon Waugh led the Polar Bears with 23 points and 10 rebounds.
• Grant Heileman added 21 points and recorded eight boards, while Adam Scott registered a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds.
• As a team, Ohio Northern went 21-of-57 (.358) from the floor and shot 8-of-18 (.444) from downtown.

The Difference

• Ohio Northern opened the game with a 10-2 surge.
• Muskingum answered the quick Polar Bear start with a 10-2 run to tie the game at 12-12 with 13:17 on the clock.
• Ohio Northern built several six-point leads as the half winded down, but the Muskies ended the half with a 5-0 spurt to enter the break down 34-33.
• The Polar Bears opened the second half with a 10-0 burst to take a 44-33 lead.
• Muskingum slowly chipped away at its deficit and got to within 74-73, following a Masinelli basket with 1:20 left in the game.
• ONU responded with a three-point basket to extend its lead to 77-73. 
• The Muskies had a chance to tie the game in the waning seconds, but a three-point shot was off the mark, and the Polar Bears fended off the Muskie comeback with clutch free throws to seal the win.
• Ohio Northern held a 47-37 edge in rebounds.
• The Polar Bears converted on 31-of-42 free throws, while the Muskies made 13-of-19.
• Muskingum held a 26-4 edge in bench points.