December 30, 2009

RedStorm lose to UNOH at Ashland Classic

Ashland, Oh. --- The University of Rio Grande RedStorm men's basketball team knew they had a tough task against the University of Northwestern Ohio on Tuesday evening on day two of the Ashland Holiday Inn Express Classic. The task proved to be too tough as Northwestern Ohio controlled the game from the opening tip en route a 91-76 victory. 

Rio Grande (5-9) scored the first basket of the game and that was the only lead it would enjoy the rest of the game. 

UNOH (10-6) steadily built the lead throughout the first half until it reached 22 points (45-23) on back-to-back trifectas from Josh Vorst. Rio closed the gap to 45-26 at the half as senior sharpshooter P.J. Rase (Wheelersburg, OH) nailed a three-pointer at the buzzer.

Rio trailed 57-34 in the second half and put together a nice 17-7 run to narrow the margin to 13 points (64-51) following a three by freshman forward Victor Bande (Madrid, Spain). The RedStorm would get as close as 12 points (75-63) after a three from junior guard Doug Campbell (Salisbury, NC). 

From that point UNOH put the game away. 

Rase led the RedStorm with 17 points. Sophomore forward Shaun Gunnell (Columbus, OH), in his first start for Rio Grande, added 12 points and seven rebounds. Junior forward Wendell Bates, Jr. (Akron, OH) led Rio on the glass with eight rebounds. 

Vorst exploded for 37 points to lead all scorers in the game. He went 13-for-16 at the free throw line to key the victory for the Racers. Isaac Bowers added 16 points (14 in the second half) and Kyle Gillette tossed in 14 points and pulled down six rebounds. Brandon Miller led all players in the game with nine rebounds. 

The free throw line was very big in the outcome of the game as the Racers went 32-of-44 (72.7 percent) while Rio Grande made 20 trips to the charity stripe making 17 for 85 percent. 

The Racers made Rio's 18 turnovers hurt as they out-scored the RedStorm 31-15 in points off turnovers. 

Rio will regroup and turn the page to 2010. They open the New Year at Brescia on January 6. Brescia defeated Rio Grande 84-77 on December 5 at the Newt Oliver Arena. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. Stretch Internet will provide play-by-play coverage beginning at 6:45 p.m.