Findlay, Ohio – The University of Findlay basketball team continued its' run of dominance on Thursday, Nov. 14 with a non-conference affair against the University of Northwestern Ohio, which plays in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). Findlay was on fire, winning the game by a score of 130-87, the most combined points in an Oilers' game since a 137-90 victory over Michigan-Dearborn back in 2001. That victory gives UF a 3-0 record to start the year while UNOH falls to 2-4.
The Oilers 130 points are the most in a game since scoring 131 points against the University of Miami-Hamilton in the 2017-18 and the 324 points through three games to start the year are the most since 1991-92.
Findlay got off to a hot start, jumping out to a 8-0 lead on the strength of a pair of triples by senior Josh Thorbahn. That lead quickly ballooned to 24-4 just seven minutes into the contest.
By halftime the two teams were separated by 23 points with Findlay on top 63-40. A three-pointer by sophomore Will Aljancic sent the Oilers over the century mark with still 10:18 to play in the game. Findlay's lead would by capped at 46 points when the home team took a 123-77 lead with three minutes on the clock, plenty to secure the victory.
In the game, the Oilers made 46-of-78 (59%) including 17-of-34 (50%) from three-point range, two shy of the program record. Findlay won the battle on the boards 42-to-37 and forced UNOH into 21 turnovers, turning into 34 points off turnovers for UF.
A trio of players scored 20 or more points in the game, the first time that has happened since Tyler Stern-Tucker, Martyce Kimbrough, and Taren Sullivan each scored 20+ against Ohio Dominican back in 2017. Today, it was Aljancic with 25, junior Mason Brandt with 22, and freshman Ian Ioppolo with 21. Aljancic and Ioppolo each made five threes in the game to lead the way. Brandt, whose 22 points is a career-high, was 3-of-4 from deep and led the team with seven rebounds.
Redshirt freshman Jake Bishop scored 17 in the game on the strength of an 8-of-9 effort from the charity stripe. He grabbed five rebounds and had a pair of blocks, as well. Freshman Steele Meister was also in double figures, scoring 12.
Junior Max Roth was the key distributer, picking up a career-high ten assists.
The Oilers will hit the road for the first time this season on Sunday, Nov. 17 when they travel to Wayne State. That contest will tip off at 2:00 pm in Detroit, Michigan.
