Mar. 8, at Findlay, (NAIA Division I Great Lakes Sectional - Semifinal)
Findlay, ranked No. 8 in NAIA Division I, pulled away in the second half for an 83-65 victory which ended the Yellow Jackets season. Leading 42-34 at halftime, the Oilers took off in period two by outscoring Cedarville 27-8 in the first 9:30 to blow it open. John Krueger scored 24 points for the Jackets while Ted Forrest added 11. Cedarville outscored the home team 56-52 from the field, but the Oilers hit 31-of-43 free throws to 9-of-14 for the Yellow Jackets. BOXSCORE
Mar. 6, RIO GRANDE (NAIA Division I Great Lakes Sectional - First Round)
John Krueger poured in 29 points to lead Cedarville to an 81-75 victory over Rio Grande in the first round of the NAIA Division I Great Lakes Sectional. The Yellow Jackets held a slim 74-73 lead when Krueger gave the home team some breathing room with a jumper at the 1:39 mark and two free throws with 16 seconds left for a 78-73 advantage. Kyle Mraz had 13 points, Brent Miller 12, and Jon Woolley 10. The victory ended a five-game losing streak overall and a six-game skid in the Athletic Center. BOXSCORE
Mar. 1, at Findlay
Mid-Ohio Conference champion Findlay, ranked No. 9 in NAIA Division I, polished off the injury-riddled Yellow Jackets, 79-65, in the regular season finale for both teams. The Oilers led 33-25 at halftime and slowly increased the difference to as much as 20 points in the final minutes. John Krueger scored 18 points for Cedarville and became the 35th Yellow Jacket player to surpass 1,000 career points. Brooks Fry added 12 points. Cedarville was without freshman guard and second leading scorer Clint Hayes (18.4 ppg) and leading rebounder Linton Ellis (7.6 rpg), who were both out with knee injuries. BOXSCORE
Feb. 22, at Shawnee State
Shawnee State bolted to a 19-point lead and then hung on for an 82-76 Mid-Ohio Conference win. The Bears scored the first eight points of the game and opened up a 37-18 advantage. The Yellow Jackets recovered to close the gap to 39-30 by halftime and then scored the first four points of the second half. That is as close as they would get the rest of the way. John Krueger pumped in 27 points for Cedarville. Clint Hayes added 23 points and Brent Miller had 10. BOXSCORE
Feb. 20, at Rio Grande
CEDARVILLE WAS LATER NOTIFIED THAT RIO GRANDE FORFEITED THE GAME DUE TO THE USE OF AN INELIGIBLE PLAYER -- Rio Grande rallied in the second half for a 77-62 Mid-Ohio Conference victory over the Yellow Jackets. Cedarville expanded a 36-26 halftime lead to a 41-28 bulge with 17:00 left. But the host Redmen erupted on a 27-3 run over the next 7:20 to swing the momentum and take command. John Krueger scored 21 points for the Jackets. Clint Hayes and Jon Woolley chipped in 11 points each. BOXSCORE
Feb. 15, MALONE
Malone defeated Cedarville for the 15th straight time dating back to 1987 with an 80-69 Mid-Ohio Conference victory. The Yellow Jackets led 53-49 with 12:45 left, but the visitors answered with a 15-2 run over the next seven minutes and coasted from there. John Krueger scored 19 points for Cedarville while Clint Hayes had 17 and Jon Woolley chipped in 11. The Yellow Jackets had a 33-24 rebounding edge and hit 15-of-18 free throws ,but Malone buried 11-of-19 three-pointers. Cedarville finishes the home portion of the schedule with six straight losses in the Athletic Center and a 9-10 home record overall. BOXSCORE
Feb. 13, at Walsh
Walsh University shot 57 percent from the field and cruised to an easy 106-77 Mid-Ohio Conference victory. The Cavs led 48-39 at halftime, and then blew it open by starting the second half with a 21-10 spurt. Rookie guard Clint Hayes scored 21 points for the Yellow Jackets. John Krueger had 18 points, Linton Ellis 12, and Kyle Mraz 11. BOXSCORE
Feb. 11, at Ohio Dominican
Clint Hayes scored 28 points and grabbed ten rebounds as the Yellow Jackets ended an eight-game losing streak with a 73-59 Mid-Ohio Conference victory at Ohio Dominican. Cedarville led 34-27 at halftime, and then Hayes practically held the Panthers at bay all by himself in the second half by scoring 18 of the Yellow Jackets first 20 points. John Krueger finished with 15 points while Kyle Mraz had 12. Senior center Jon Woolley became the 34th player in Yellow Jacket basketball history to reach 1,000 career points. BOXSCORE
Feb. 8, TIFFIN
Tiffin University cruised to a 75-61 Mid-Ohio Conference victory before an Athletic Center record crowd of 3,503 during Li'l Sibs Weekend. The Dragons increased a 31-26 halftime lead to ten midway through the second half and were not threatened the rest of the way. The Yellow Jackets mustered only a 34.5 percent showing from the field including a 4-for-15 effort outside the arc. Freshman guard Clint Hayes came off the bench with 20 points. John Krueger netted 16 points and Jon Woolley added 12. Cedarville has lost eight straight for the first time since a school-record 11-game slide 37 years ago. The Jackets have also lost five in a row at home for the first time in the 16-year history of the A.C. BOXSCORE
Feb. 6, FINDLAY
Findlay, ranked No. 6 nationally in NAIA Division I, pulled away in the final minutes for a 79-67 Mid-Ohio Conference victory. Cedarville never held the lead, yet cut an 11-point deficit to two points on three separate occasions. The Jackets trailed 68-65 with 2:30 left, but the Oilers scored eight straight points to seal their eighth consecutive win. Kyle Mraz buried five three-pointers and scored 17 points for Cedarville. John Krueger had 13 points, plus Jon Woolley and Linton Ellis added 12 points each as the Jackets suffered their seventh straight loss. BOXSCORE
Feb. 4, MT. VERNON NAZARENE
Mt. Vernon Nazarene outlasted the Yellow Jackets, 119-113, in a double overtime Mid-Ohio Conference thriller. Cedarville nearly avenged a 27-point loss just ten days earlier at MVNC and the home team was in great position to do so more than once. First, the Jackets had the final shot at the end of regulation but came up empty. Second, they scored the first three points of the first overtime, yet needed John Krueger's trey with 11 seconds left to force another OT. Cedarville bolted to a 108-102 lead with 2:45 left in the second extra session, but the Cougars finished with a 17-5 explosion to win it. Krueger poured in a career-high 38 points for the Yellow Jackets, who lost their sixth straight. Jon Woolley had 20 points and 13 rebounds, Ted Forrest added 14 points, while Kyle Mraz and Linton Ellis chipped in 12 apiece. BOXSCORE
Feb. 1, URBANA
Urbana University held on for a 67-64 Mid-Ohio Conference victory over Cedarville before an Alumni Weekend crowd of 3,414 in the Athletic Center. The Yellow Jackets trailed 41-28 early in the second half, but scored 13 straight points to tie the game with 13:50 left. The Blue Knights, ranked No. 9 in NAIA Division II, upped the spread to 56-47 at the 8:30 mark, however Linton Ellis' layup with 2:50 to play gave Cedarville a 62-61 edge. After Urbana regained a one-point lead, the home team failed on two straight possessions to get the advantage. The Knights finished it off by making their final four free throws in the last 32 seconds. Senior center Jon Woolley totalled 17 points, 12 rebounds, and three blocks for the Yellow Jackets while John Krueger added 15 points. BOXSCORE
Jan. 30, MADONNA
Madonna University squandered a 12-point lead and then pulled out a miraculous 90-85 overtime victory in a non-conference game. Cedarville rallied from a 63-51 deficit with 10:15 left and held a 79-77 advantage with four seconds left and the ball out of bounds. The Yellow Jackets turned it over and Madonna hit a shot with one second left to tie it. The Crusaders never trailed in the overtime to end a four-game losing streak. John Krueger scored 19 of his 23 points in the second half for Cedarville. Jon Woolley netted 16 points, Ted Forrest had 15 points and ten rebounds off the bench, and Linton Ellis chipped in 11 points. Fifteen of Madonna's 23 field goals came outside the three-point arc and they attempted 42 bombs total. BOXSCORE
Jan. 25, at Mt. Vernon Nazarene
The host Cougars sprinted to a 50-33 halftime lead, inflated the bulge to 35 points in the second half, and cruised to a 107-80 Mid-Ohio Conference victory over Cedarville. John Krueger scored 24 points for the Yellow Jackets. Kyle Mraz had 17 points, Linton Ellis 13 points with 12 rebounds, and Jon Woolley added 12 points. Cedarville was again without freshman guard Clint Hayes (19.2 ppg), who is on the sidelines with an injured knee. The Jackets still lead the all-time series versus MVNC, 42-9, but this outcome was the most lopsided in favor of the Cougars. BOXSCORE
Jan. 23, at Michigan-Dearborn
Michigan-Dearborn used a 15-point run in the first half en route to an 80-67 upset of Cedarville in a non-conference game. The Wolves, who entered the game with a ten-game losing streak and a 2-19 record, trailed 21-20 at the midway point of the initial period before using the decisive spurt for a 35-21 advantage five minutes later. The Yellow Jackets trailed 43-32 at halftime, surrendered the first five points of the second half, and then could get no closer than eight points the rest of the way. John Krueger fired in a game-high 27 points for Cedarville, who had beaten UMD 105-90 earlier in the A.C. Jon Woolley had 13 points while Linton Ellis added ten points and 15 rebounds. Rookie guard Clint Hayes (19.2 ppg) was unavailable again due to a sore knee. BOXSCORE
Jan. 21, at Urbana
Urbana used a 17-1 run late in the game to produce a 71-57 Mid-Ohio Conference victory over the Yellow Jackets. The host Blue Knights, ranked No. 14 in NAIA Division II, broke a 47-all tie with 6:30 left with the decisive spurt which included a string of 11 straight points. John Krueger had 19 points for Cedarville while Jon Woolley added 14. The Jackets had a 46-27 rebounding edge with Linton Ellis pulling in 13, however they committed 23 turnovers to 14 for Urbana. Rookie guard Clint Hayes returned to the starting line-up after missing two games with a knee injury, but he responded with a season-low eight ponts. BOXSCORE
Jan. 18, SHAWNEE STATE
John Krueger fired in 26 points to help Cedarville end a three-game losing streak with an 88-75 win over Shawnee State in a Mid-Ohio Conference game. Trailing 27-22 with 4:50 left in the first half, the Jackets scored the final 11 points of the period for a 33-27 halftime lead. They opened the second period with a 16-4 spurt in the first 4:30 for their largest lead, 49-31. SSU never got closer than ten points the rest of the way. Jon Woolley tallied 21 points, Kyle Mraz 18, and Linton Ellis came off the bench with ten points and 17 rebounds. Cedarville had a 52-31 edge on the boards and shot 52 percent from the field. Freshman guard Clint Hayes (20.2 ppg) missed his second straight game with an injured knee. BOXSCORE
Jan. 16, RIO GRANDE
CEDARVILLE WAS NOTIFIED ON 2/27/97 THAT RIO GRANDE FORFEITED THE GAME DUE TO THE USE OF AN INELIGIBLE PLAYER -- Rio Grande dealt the Yellow Jackets their third straight loss, 77-69, in the Athletic Center. The Redmen led 47-41 at halftime, opened up a 16-point spread in the second half, and then hung on after the home team cut the deficit to five with 52 seconds left. John Krueger finished with 24 points for the Jackets while Kyle Mraz had 15 points and Jon Woolley chipped in ten. Cedarville finished with just seven turnovers and Rio had six. The injury bug continues to plague the Yellow Jackets who, outside of the season opener, have not been at full strength the entire season. They were forced to play without freshman guard Clint Hayes, who averages 20.2 points per game, due to a knee injury he suffered in practice. Back-up center Ted Forrest was out with a sprained ankle. BOXSCORE
Jan. 11, at Malone
Malone outscored Cedarville 10-1 in the final 2:30 for an 89-77 Mid-Ohio Conference win. The Yellow Jackets led 43-38 at halftime, but hit just 30 percent of their shots in the second half. John Krueger finished with 22 points while Clint Hayes had 17, Linton Ellis 13, and Kyle Mraz ten. Carson Duncan hauled in 12 rebounds and Jon Woolley had 11. The outcome was the 14th straight victory for Malone over Cedarville dating back to 1987. The Pioneers entered the game ranked No. 15 in NAIA Division II. BOXSCORE
Jan. 9, WALSH
Defending Mid-Ohio Conference champion Walsh University rolled to a 79-59 victory in the Athletic Center. The Cavs rebounded from a 12-point deficit to lead 32-30 at halftime. They opened the second period with a 17-5 spurt before the Jackets closed the gap to five with 9:40 left. But Walsh finished the game with a 24-9 run to put the home team away. John Krueger netted a game-high 26 points for Cedarville and rookie guard Clint Hayes tallied 16. The Cavaliers had a convincing 48-33 rebounding edge and held the Yellow Jackets to 36.7 percent shooting. BOXSCORE
Dec. 14, at Wilberforce
Wilberforce erased a 12-point halftime deficit and shocked the Yellow Jackets in overtime, 99-96, in a non-conference game. After trailing 45-33 at halftime, the Bulldogs scored the first 11 points after the intermission to make it a ball game. Wilberforce tied the game with one second left in regulation. The Jackets jumped out to a 95-90 lead in OT, but the home team closed the game with a 9-1 run in the final 3:20. Freshman guard Clint Hayes matched a Cedarville school record with eight three-point baskets and finished with 32 points. His three-pointer at the buzzer bounced off the rim. John Krueger added 22 points, Linton Ellis had 15, and Carson Duncan recorded ten points and 16 rebounds. BOXSCORE
Dec. 10, OHIO DOMINICAN
The Yellow Jackets made 16 of 18 free throws in the final two minutes to secure an 81-68 Mid-Ohio Conference victory against Ohio Dominican. Cedarville, which led 38-33 at halftime, let a 60-44 advantage with seven minutes left slip to a five-point spread before pulling away from the charity stripe. John Krueger scored 21 points to pace five Yellow Jackets in double figures. Brent Miller had 14 points, Clint Hayes 12, Brooks Fry 11, and Linton Ellis ten. Cedarville shot 51 percent from the field, including 57 percent in the second period, and held a 38-26 rebounding edge. The home team converted 26 of 32 free throws for 81 percent. BOXSCORE
Dec. 5, at Tiffin
Cedarville opened Mid-Ohio Conference play with a 90-79 setback at Tiffin. Bad travel conditions forced a late arrival by the Jackets with gametime delayed 20 minutes and it showed. The Dragons bolted to a 14-point lead and held a 40-33 halftime advantage. After the spread reached 14 points again in the second period, the Yellow Jackets rallied for a 69-67 lead with 5:10 to go. But TU scored the next ten points and never looked back. John Krueger scored 28 points and dished out eight assists. Clint Hayes, playing for the first time in three games, had 17 points while Carson Duncan scored 11. Linton Ellis provided 12 rebounds coming off the bench. Jon Woolley, who had not played in five games due to a spained ankle, made a token appearance of four minutes. BOXSCORE
Nov. 30, CONCORDIA (First Cedarville Thanksgiving Classic)
Cedarville, again playing without starters Jon Woolley and Clint Hayes, found itself trailing 42-40 early in the second half before recovering for the 80-65 win. Linton Ellis came off the bench with 19 points and 16 rebounds. He was named to the All-Classic team along with John Krueger, who finished with 18 points. Classic MVP Brent Miller totalled 17 points and 11 boards while Ted Forrest chipped in ten points. The Jackets outrebounded Concordia 50-30 and shot 54 percent for the game including 62 percent in the second period. BOXSCORE
Nov. 29, REDEEMER (First Cedarville Thanksgiving Classic)
This one was over as soon as it started with the Yellow Jackets blowing out to a 65-13 lead by halftime and cruising to a 64-point frolic over the Ontario school. Rookie guard Kyle Mraz started and drained six three-point shots en route to 20 points. John Krueger had 17 points, Ted Forrest and Linton Ellis 14 each, and Brent Miller chipped in 11. Cedarville played without starters Jon Woolley (sprained ankle) and Clint Hayes (muscle pull). BOXSCORE
Nov. 26, ASHLAND
For the second straight game, a team came back from a double figure deficit in the first half to beat the Yellow Jackets in the Athletic Center. This time it was Ashland who recovered for a 77-70 victory. Cedarville, playing its second straight game without starting center Jon Woolley, blew out to a 14-point lead that the Eagles cut to 41-30 by halftime. The Yellow Jackets shot just 24 percent from the field in the second half and were outscored 47-29. Clint Hayes led four Cedarville players in double digits with 21 points and was joined by John Krueger with 20, Brent Miller 12, and Linton Ellis 11. BOXSCORE
Nov. 23, ROBERTS WESLEYAN (19th Annual Cedarville Invitational)
Roberts Wesleyan rallied from an 18-point deficit to stun Cedarville, 90-84, thus denying the Jackets of their own tournament title for the first time in six years. The Yellow Jackets bolted to a 27-9 lead which was shaved to 40-36 at halftime. The home team recovered for a 71-61 lead with 9:05 left before the Raiders exploded with 19 straight points in the next six minutes to take control. Clint Hayes (24 pts) and John Krueger (20 pts) were both named to the all-tournament team. Brent Miller tossed in 13 points for the Jackets, who played without Jon Woolley. BOXSCORE
Nov. 19, at Cumberland KY
The Yellow Jackets were missing two key players for their first road game of the season which resulted in an 87-59 setback at Cumberland, who was ranked No. 9 in NAIA Division I. Clint Hayes (illness) and Linton Ellis (chicken pox) did not make the trip. Cedarville scored the first eight points of the game before the Indians starting lighting it up beyond the three-point arc. Cumberland, which recovered for a 50-32 halftime lead, buried 17-of-29 treys for the night. Jon Woolley and John Krueger had 16 points each while Brent Miller had 12 and Carson Duncan chipped in 11. The Yellow Jackets held a 36-34 rebounding edge. BOXSCORE
Nov. 16, CINCINNATI BIBLE
Cedarville dominated Cincinnati Bible in every phase of the game during an easy 92-50 frolic in the Athletic Center. John Krueger had 19 points for the Jackets. Clint Hayes sat out with an illness and fellow rookie Kyle Mraz responded with 16 points while Jon Woolley added 14. Cedarville outrebounded the Eagles, 62-30, and shot .455 from the field while holding CBC to just .230 shooting. The Jackets led 36-13 at halftime. BOXSCORE
Nov. 12, MICHIGAN-DEARBORN
Sophomore guard John Krueger led five Yellow Jackets in double figures with 28 points in a 105-90 victory against the University of Michigan-Dearborn. Cedarville led 44-36 at halftime and increased the spread to as much as 25 points in the second period. Brent Miller totalled 21 points and a game-high nine rebounds, plus tied a school record for three-point accuracy in one game by draining five-of-six treys. Linton Ellis provided 16 points off the bench, Jon Woolley netted 15, and Clint Hayes chipped in 13. BOXSCORE
Nov. 9, WILBERFORCE
Cedarville rallied from a seven-point deficit in the second half for a 92-80 victory over Wilberforce in the season opener played before 2,256 in the Athletic Center. Freshman guard Clint Hayes made his collegiate debut by pouring in 29 points to lead the way. John Krueger added 14 points and Linton Ellis came off the bench to tally 12. The Yellow Jackets, who trailed 43-40 at halftime, shot .486 from the field for the game and controlled the boards, 56-45. Ellis hauled in a game-high 12 rebounds. BOXSCORE