ELGIN, Ill. - Olivet Nazarene University Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference play with a hard-fought 81-55 win over Judson University on Wednesday night at the Lindner Fitness Center. The Tigers leaned on balanced scoring and timely defense to secure the victory in Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference play.

The Tigers jumped out to an early 12-3 after an Andrew Bennett three-pointer with 14:33 left in the half. The rest of the half was a back-and-forth battle, but ONU found some rhythm behind standout forward Eli Edwards, who has been on a tear this season after earning CCAC Offensive Player of the Week honors in consecutive weeks. Two Caleb Corro free throws gave Olivet their largest lead of the half (15) right before the break. A late bucket by Judson made it a 40-27 Olivet advantage at halftime.

The Tigers' depth was on full display in the second half. Mason Wood and Corro knocked down multiple three-pointers to keep Judson's defense stretched, while Dylan Fey grabbed several rebounds. Inside, Landen Hale provided an energetic spark off the bench, and Edwards pitched in 12 more points of his own. Defensively, Olivet Nazarene tightened the screws late, forcing Judson into contested looks and capitalizing on transition opportunities. An 8-0 in the middle of the second half gave the Tigers a comfortable margin that they would maintain throughout the rest of the game. Olivet's ability to share the ball—averaging nearly 19 assists per game this season—was evident again, as crisp ball movement led to high-percentage shots and a 81-55 final score. 

With the win, ONU improves to 3-2 overall and 1-0 in conference play.

The Tigers now turn their attention to another away matchup against Viterbo on Saturday, Nov. 22 in La Crosse, Wis.

--ONU--