Jackets Blow Out Malone

Kwenton Scott looks to pass to an open teammate (Photo: Christian Cortes).

J.C. Faubion puts up an easy layup (Photo: Christian Cortes).

Patrick Bain pulls up for a jump shot (Photo: Christian Cortes).

Robert Okoro (left), Patrick Bain (middle) and J.C. Faubion (right) high five each other (Photo: Christian Cortes).

Kwenton Scott takes a three-point shot (Photo: Christian Cortes).

Kwenton Scott defends the basket (Photo: Christian cortes).

Dazhonetae Bennett drives to the basket (Photo: Christian Cortes).

Patrick Bain blocks a shot attempt by Malone (Photo: Christian Cortes).

The Cedarville Yellow Jackets walloped the Malone Pioneers on Thursday night 76-51. Cedarville shot the ball exceptionally well, as they converted on 50 percent of their attempts.

Four players finished in double figures for the Yellow Jackets. Patrick Bain led the way with 19 points. Bain also led the team in rebounds with eight.

J.C. Faubion shot eight for 12 from the field and scored 17 points. The senior also dished out five assists. Kwenton Scott continued his stellar string of games by shooting five for six for 14 points. Robert Okoro was the final Yellow Jacket to reach double figures with ten points.

Cedarville head coach Pat Estepp gave high praise to the team’s defensive efforts.

“I’m really proud of our guys defensively,” Estepp said. “I think that was probably our best defensive game all year.”

The game began as a defensive struggle, as neither side was able to produce a substantial lead. Halfway through the first, just a combined 18 points were scored. Cedarville led 10-8 with 11:30 left in the first.

After a Malone timeout, both teams began to scorch the scoreboard. In the span of just two minutes, Cedarville scored nine points and Malone added seven. With 6:49 left, the Yellow Jackets led 19-15.

Dazhonetae Bennett checked into the game with 5:36 left. Bennett had missed five straight games after suffering a concussion on January 7.

It didn’t take long for Bennett to heat up. His first bucket came just a minute and a half after he checked in. Bain led a three-on-one fast break, and a precise pass from him led to an exclamation point. Bain lobbed a perfect pass to Bennett, and Bennett hammered home a monstrous dunk.

On the next offensive possession for Cedarville, Bennett made a mid-range jumper to give Cedarville a 29-17 lead.

Malone closed the half strong, as they went on a 10-2 run just before the half ended.

The Yellow Jackets took some momentum back, as Scott nailed a three-pointer with two seconds left in the half. Cedarville took a 34-27 lead into halftime.

Cedarville went on a 14-4 run to open the second half, which helped pave the way to a drama-free final half.

Estepp credited a small offensive adjustment as the reason to why Cedarville broke the game open in the second.

“In the first half, we started a little stagnant,” Estepp said. “We were trying to drive too early. In the second half, we did a better job of moving the ball early, and then attacking.

Cedarville (9-11, 1-4 GMAC) will travel to West Virginia to play GMAC foe Ohio Valley on Saturday. OVU is winless this season, sitting at 0-16.

Tim Miller is a freshman journalism student at Cedarville University. Tim loves anything that has to do with sports, and hopes to write about sports for a career after graduating from Cedarville.