Men's college basketball: Big second half lifts UF over Trevecca Nazarene

University of Findlay’s Nathan Bruns (10) sinks a baseline fadeaway over Trevecca Nazarene's Reed Smith (32) and CJ Herbert during Thursday's game at Niekamp Arena. (Photo by Matthias Leguire) The University of Findlay men’s basketball team put together a complete and dominant second half to run past Trevecca Nazarene University 80-47 for a Great Midwest Athletic Conference victory on Thursday at Niekamp Arena. The Oilers (11-5, 6-1 GMAC), winners of seven straight, led only 37-31 at halftime as the Trojans (1-17, 1-7) hung around by making nine 3s in the first half. Findlay pushed its lead out to 53-41 with 13 minutes remaining before finding a whole new gear and outscoring TNU 37-6 the rest of the way. Anthony Masterlasco (Liberty-Benton) scored 13 points to lead three UF players in double figures. Tommy Schmock had 12 points, five assists and five steals while Nathan Bruns had 10 points and seven rebounds off the bench. The Oilers bested 60 percent from the floor in each half and finished at a season-best 64.2 percent overall (34-53). Findlay forced 22 turnovers for 12 steals while outrebounding TNU 32-17 — 6-2 offensive. The Trojans scored a bulk of their points from beyond the arc, making 12 of 26 from 3, 14 of 39 overall. TNU’s Austin Wills had four 3-pointers off the bench for a team-high 12 points — all in the first half. Findlay will host Kentucky Wesleyan (6-10, 5-4) in league play at 3 p.m. Saturday at Niekamp Arena. The Panthers fell 72-60 at Hillsdale on Thursday. TREV. NAZARENE (1-17, 1-17 GMAC) Smith 1-5 4-4 6, Webb 0-3 0-0 0, Rogers 3-8 1-1 9, Starling 0-1 1-2 1, Tharpe 3-5 0-0 9, Harper 1-2 0-0 3, Herbert 0-1 0-1 0, Wills 4-9 0-0 12, Mollenhauer 0-0 0-0 0, Headrick 2-4 0-0 6, McKay 0-0 1-2 1, Cockrell 0-1 0-0 0, Miller 0-0 0-0 0. TOTALS: 14-39 7-10 –47. FINDLAY (11-5, 6-1 GMAC) Masterlasco 6-8 0-1 — 13, Stover 1-3 0-0 2, Overhiser 2-5 0-0 4, Schmock 5-7 0-0 12, Linder 3-5 1-2 7, Gray 4-5 1-2 9, George 1-4 3-4 5, Bruns 4-5 2-3 10, Emrick 3-4 0-0 6, Edmonds 2-2 0-0 5, Palmer 0-0 0-0 0, Wildermuth 2-3 0-0 4, Wall 1-2 0-0 3, Hiegel 0-0 0-0 0, McIver 0-0 0-0 0. TOTALS: 34-53 7-12 — 80. 3-Point GOALS: Trevecca Nazarene 12-26 (Smith 0-1, Rogers 2-6, Tharpe 3-5, Harper 1-2, Herbert 0-1, Wills 4-7, Headrick 2-4); Findlay 5-14 (Masterlasco 1-3, Overhiser 0-1, Schmock 2-3, Linder 0-2, George 0-2, Edmonds 1-1, Wall 1-2). rebounds: Trevecca Nazarene 17 (Headrick 5); Findlay 32 (Bruns 7). ASSISTS: Trevecca Nazarene 12 (Headrick 4); Findlay 17 (Schmock 5). STEALS: Trevecca Nazarene 5 (Smith & Tharpe 2); Findlay 12 (Schmock 5). BLOCKS: Trevecca Nazarene 3 (Webb 2); Findlay 2 (Bruns & George 1). TURNOVERS: Trevecca Nazarene 22; Findlay 13. TOTAL FOULS: Trevecca Nazarene 9; Findlay 14. FOULED OUT: None. HALFTIME: Findlay, 37-31.