Cedarville, Ohio – Shawnee State men's basketball took their first loss of the season on Friday night, falling to Ohio Dominican 75-65 on day one of the Don Callan Classic at Cedarville University.
ODU would lead most of the first half, with Hasan Varence's lay-up giving the Panthers an early 5-3 lead on Shawnee State. The lead would grow to 10 points late in the period at 27-17, but SSU would mostly keep it close, and eventually cut the lead down to four by halftime. This was achieved with less than two minutes to go, as Chris Byrd (JR/Columbus, Ohio) would drain a three and EJ Onu (SO/Cleveland, Ohio) would hit a lay-up. Those points cut the lead to 34-30, with Byrd's late heave hitting off the back iron heading into halftime.
Shawnee State rallied early in the second half to take the lead. Justin Johnson (JR/Cincinnati, Ohio) started the half with a quick bucket, and the Bears locked down defensively. Byrd and Biakapia hit back-to-back shots in the paint to give SSU the lead at 37-36, with the run eventually getting up to 12-0 on Tamal Watkins (JR/Columbus, Ohio)' lay-up in traffic. That lay-up gave SSU a 45-36 lead with 14:02 to go.
Ohio Dominican would chip away at the lead and eventually re-take the lead. Michael Simon would hit a three to put the Panthers up 51-49. After a pair of free throws from Austin Crawford (SO/Brooksville, Kentucky), Simon would get another three to put the Panthers back up three. Crawford would make a jumper and Selby Hind-Wills (JR/Crawley, England) would hit one of two free throws to tie the game again, but a wide-open lay-up from Matt King would put ODU up 56-54, a lead they would not relinquish.
The Panthers extended the lead back out to nine points at 66-57, but the Bears began a run to get back into the game. Free throws from Johnson and Tim Biakapia (JR/Germantown, Maryland) would combine with another Crawford floater to get SSU within three points at 66-63. However, Ohio Dominican would close the game well, as Michael Scott hit a shot late to put ODU back up two possessions. The Panthers would close the game with free throws to down the Bears.
Shawnee State shot 21-50 from the field for 42.0%, while shooting 5-16 from three. The Bears shot 18-28 from the free throw line, 64.3%. SSU shot 16 few field goal attempts than Ohio Dominican, due in part to 18 SSU turnovers and 8 Ohio Dominican offensive rebounds. SSU outrebounded the Panthers 39-35 on the night.
Chris Byrd led a trio of Bears in double figures with 13 points. Tim Biakapia had 12 and Austin Crawford added 10.
Tahj Curry had a game-high 26 points to lead Ohio Dominican to the win. Sam Hickey added 13 and Matt King had 10.
The loss drops Shawnee State to 3-1 on the season, snapping a three-game winning streak for the Bears. Ohio Dominican improves to 2-1. The Panthers lead the all-time series over SSU 24-22, having won the last five meetings.
Shawnee State men's basketball returns to action on Saturday, November 17 when they play Cedarville (Ohio) on day two of the Don Callan Classic. Tipoff is set for 7:45pm.
