Box Score
Ben Haarman (Cincinnati, OH/St. Bernard) fired in 35 points, including a game-tying three-pointer with five seconds left in regulation, and the Lions converted six-of-10 free throws in the overtime period to pull out a 98-97 win on Senior Night over Franklin College. The Mount, 6-18 overall, 4-13 in the HCAC, will conclude 2010-11 season play on Feb. 19 when they play at HCAC-foe Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology.
The Grizzlies jumped out to a 51-44 lead at the half, thanks to making 22-of-27 first half shots, but saw the Lions go on a 8-0 lead to start the second half and forge ahead 52-51 by the 17:22 mark. Franklin would turn that deficit around, and due to solid inside-outside play, lead by as much as nine points in the second half, 67-58 with 11:30 remaining in the game. The Lions inside duo of Jordan Brown (Kettering, OH/Kettering Alter) and Jeremy Wessels (Cincinnati, OH/Oak Hills) helped them fight back to knot the score at 73-all with 6:24 on the clock, but the Grizzlies once again gained the advantage in the final minutes, holding a 84-79 lead with 21 seconds to play. Haarman's lay-up with 14 seconds left cut the deficit to 84-81 setting the stage for his game-tying three-point shot. Franklin missed a long three-point shot at the buzzer as the game headed to overtime.
With the two teams facing a 90-all tie with 2:21 to play, the Mount went on a 5-0 run, thanks to free throws and a lay-up by Clifford Cass (Cincinnati, OH/Mt. Healthy). Franklin's three-pointer with three seconds left in OT provided the final scoring margin.
Haarman also added three assists and four steals while Brown (16) and Wessels (14 points and 10 rebounds) also added double-figure scoring. John Valerius (Hamilton, OH/Hamilton Badin) added 10 points. Haarman, Brown and Valerius, all seniors, were honored before the game.
The Mount won the battle of the boards, 34-28, and forced 21 turnovers while committing 13 miscues.
