Mount Vernon, Ohio – Shawnee State men's basketball won their third straight on Friday afternoon, defeating Cardinal Stritch (Wisc.) 71-54 in the first game of the Mount Vernon Nazarene Homecoming Tournament.

The first half would be close throughout, featuring six ties and four lead changes. Cardinal Stritch would take an early lead, but a Bryan Rolfe (SO/Lucasville, Ohio) bucket would tie the game at 7-7 early. The two teams would continue to play a close game, with the largest lead of the half being the Wolves' 29-23 lead with 1:44 to go in the half. A three pointer by Gavin Brown (FR/Carroll, Ohio) and buckets from Rolfe and Derick Jones (FR/McArthur, Ohio) would put SSU up 30-29 near the end of the period, but Nemanja Knezevic's two pointer with four seconds remaining would give CSU a 31-30 lead at halftime.

Jayllen Carter (SR/Portsmouth, Ohio) would start the second half with a three to put SSU up two early. After a Cardinal Stritch basket tied the game, Justin Johnson (SO/Cincinnati, Ohio) would score a two pointer to give SSU a 35-33 lead, a lead the Bears would never relinquish. SSU would quickly go on a 9-0 run to push the lead to 46-35, and the Bears would not trail by less than 12 the rest of the way, cruising to their third win in a row.

Bryan Rolfe led all scorers with 15 points for Shawnee State. Justin Johnson added 11 points and Jayllen Carter had 10.

Nemanja Knezevic had 14 points to lead Cardinal Stritch.

The win improves Shawnee State's record to 3-1 on the year. Cardinal Stritch fall to 1-4.

Shawnee State men's basketball return to action tomorrow, when they will play either Rio Grande or Mount Vernon Nazarene in the second round of the Mount Vernon Nazarene Homecoming Tournament. Tipoff time will be announced later tonight.