JOLIET, Ill. --- A 75 percent shooting mark over an eight-minute timespan in the second half enabled Olivet Nazarene University to pull away from the University of St. Francis men's basketball team in a 69-59 Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference contest on Wednesday night at the Sullivan Center.

The matchup was another tight see-saw affair between the two rivals over the first 25 minutes with the pair combining for six ties and 11 lead changes up to that point.  A Dakoda Joachim layup with two seconds remaining in the first half sent the Fighting Saints into the break with a 28-26 advantage.

Olivet Nazarene, however, after being held to just 32.2 percent shooting (10-of-31) in the opening half, caught fire after the break.  The Tigers (10-3, 4-1 CCAC) turned a 32-31 deficit at the 16:18 mark into a 52-36 advantage with 7:45 remaining in the affair.  USF (2-8, 1-4) would never get the deficit back into single digits the rest of the night.

ONU made eight of its first nine shots as part of an overall .750 shooting clip (9-of-12) during the 21-4 burst, while the Saints connected just one time in eight attempts and 2-of-6 times at the free throw line, while committing five turnovers during the dryspell.

Olivet Nazarene, which was held 23.6 points below its scoring average of 92.6 points per game, finished at 41 percent shooting (25-of-61) for the contest compared with the Saints' 36.8 percent mark (21-of-57).  The Tigers also connected on 15-of-17 free throws (88.2 pct.), while USF was 13-of-24 (54.2 pct.).

The guests held a 48-32 rebounding advantage, as well.

The Saints did boast three players in double figures, topped by Te Jones' 15 markers.  Rahmel Davis and EJ Charles added 14 and 12 points, respectively, with Davis also providing five assists.

Tyler Schmidt, one of the top scorers in the conference, led Olivet Nazarene with 21 points.  St. Francis held him to just six points on 2-of-9 shooting in the first half before he connected six times in 12 attempts for 15 points after the break.

Sam Emich was two points back with 19.

Notes: Davis' five assists were the most by a Saint this season … Charles extended his double-figure scoring streak to five games, while Davis has done so four times in the past five contests … The Saints tied a season high with their 12 steals … USF hits the road Saturday to take on Holy Cross College at 2 pm.   

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