Oilers get back in win column vs. Olivet

FINDLAY --Coming into Tuesday's non-conference contest against the University of Olivet, the University of Findlay's men's basketball team had followed up a four-game winning streak with three losses in four tries. In a home game against the 2-7 Comets, however, the Oilers returned to form, notching a 25-point victory in a 95-70 trouncing.Oilers coach Charlie Ernst opted for a new opening lineup rather than the one Oiler fans had grown used to, as a familiar face joined Findlay's first group. Both of Findlay's starting bigs, senior Jagger Landers and sophomore Ian Ioppolo, were noticeably absent from the starting-lineup introductions before the game, as sophomore big Alex Kendall was joined by Findlay High product Javonte Hill as newcomers to the Oilers' first group. This change in rotation appeared to make an impact right away, as both groups fired on all cylinders. Landers, who had struggled to balance guarding the bruising interior players of the G-MAC with his unique long-range ability on the other end, excelled against Olivet's reserves. Landers led the Oilers offensively with 17 points, connecting on three of his five shots from beyond the arc. Landers has grown into one of the more unique talents in the conference, able to play inside and out and fill a variety of roles for the Oilers. "As a coach, you have a responsibility to get the most out of all of your players," Ernst said. "I didn't feel like I was getting the most out of Jagger. I thought maybe bringing him off the bench might take a little bit of pressure off of him, and let him play with a little more freedom."Findlay's veteran backcourt of Mekhi Elmore and Anthony Johnson had strong performances. Elmore put up 16 points, six steals, and four rebounds. Elmore had eight of the team's first 10 points, knocking down a triple on the opening possession and using two early steals to take advantage of the Comets in transition. Johnson had 11 points, four assists and two steals, continuing to be one of the more dependable playmakers in the conference while opening up his own scoring opportunities on quick decision-making and speedy drives to the basket. "When we get into the paint creating, I feel like it just opens it up for our teammates," Elmore said. "And then that opens it up for us to make plays.""You've gotta have some guys that can break down the defense once in a while and snake their way into gaps and into spots that attract more than one guy," Ernst added. "Then, you've gotta be able to deliver good passes out of those. Obviously, Anthony can do that, we know Mekhi can do that. You add Javonte into that mix, and we've got some guys that can get us to good spots on the floor."Hill also had an impressive outing, posting 14 points, two rebounds, and two assists, hitting two three-pointers. Hill's combination of speed and length, coupled with his ball-handling ability, makes Hill a mismatch for virtually every player in the G-MAC. Leipsic alum senior Mason Brandt added to his impressive totals for the year, pouring in 12 points, six rebounds, and five steals in 20 minutes. The Oilers recorded 20 steals, forcing Olivet into 27 turnovers and converting 41 points off takeaways. Findlay shot nearly 50-percent from the field and knocked down 12 of its 15 free throws. In his first start, Kendall had nine points, four assists, and two steals, doing a little bit of everything for a fast-paced first five. "Alex can play with a small lineup pretty well," Ernst said. "He's a presence in the paint, especially defensively and on the boards. He had earned the right to play a little bit more, and to give him a chance with that first group."Ioppolo notched seven points and six rebounds in his first game off the bench this season. Graduate senior Josh Thorbahn added five points and three rebounds in just 11 minutes of action, going 2-of-2 from the floor. "Coming off those losses and coming off of our break, I feel like we had to set the tone and get going early," Elmore said. "Knowing we just came off those losses, we didn't let that keep us down. We know we gotta keep going, there's a lot of season left. We knew we had to get this win, and keep it rolling into the second half of the season."Olivet's Conner Schipper recorded 15 points and four rebounds, making seven of his 10 shots. Nathan Richardson, the Comets' leading scorer on the year, went 6-of-11 for 13 points. Levi Stambaugh had 12 points on 4-for-6 shooting from downtown. Lee Hardy was the Comets' top paint presence, putting up 11 points, nine rebounds, and three steals in a team-high 27 minutes. "We've got a lot of season left," Ernst said. "I liked our approach to the game, and I liked the way we played. It wasn't perfect, but given the fact that we were off for seven and a half days, and we had a day and a half. (Monday) was our first day back, and I was pretty pleased."The Oilers, 9-4, have a tough stretch of G-MAC road games in front of them. Findlay travels to Ashland on Monday at 7:30, Tiffin on Thursday at 7:30, and Malone on Saturday at 3 before being back in Croy Gymnasium on January 15, hosting conference opponent Lake Erie at 7:30 in the back half of a doubleheader. OLIVETSchipper 7-0–15, Richardson 6-1–13, Stambaugh 4-0–12, Hardy 5-1–11, Okello 4-0–8, Howard 2-0–6, Shenker 1-0–3, Genuise 1-0–2. TOTALS: 30-2–70.FINDLAYLanders 7-0–17, Elmore 5-4–16, Hill 6-0–14, Brandt 4-3–12, Johnson 5-1–11, Kendall 4-1–9, Ioppolo 2-3–7, Thorbahn 2-0–5, Bishop 1-0–2, Meister 1-0–2. TOTALS: 37-12–95.HALFTIME SCORE: 53-31, Findlay.THREE-POINT FIELD GOALS: Olivet 8-25 (Stambaugh 4); Findlay 9-28 (Landers 2).REBOUNDS: Olivet 38 (Hardy 9); Findlay 37 (Brandt, Ioppolo 6).TURNOVERS: Olivet 27, Findlay 15.