Box Score CEDARVILLE, Ohio - Patrick Bain exploded for a career-high 33 points and Cedarville recovered to beat Bluefield State, 77-72, in a non-conference game at the Callan Athletic Center.

The Yellow Jackets scored the first 14 points of the game as the visitors needed more than five minutes to get on the board.

A trio of 15-point margins ended up being a 38-25 advantage at the intermission.

However, the Big Blues quickly rallied thanks to a 16-4 run to start the second half. They took their first lead midway through the period and were up, 63-59, at the 6:32 mark.

Bain responded by scoring 10 of the team's next 12 points. His back-to-back three-pointers created a 69-65 edge.

After Bluefield State regained the upper hand, a Colton Linkous three-ball gave the home team the lead for good, 72-70, with 3:06 to go.

Bain finished 5-for-6 from outside the arc and converted 8-of-10 free throws. He tallied 21 of the team's 39 points in the second half.

Bain was the only Yellow Jacket to score in double figures. Linkous and Kwenton Scott provided eight points each off the bench. Robert Okoro pulled down a career-high 11 rebounds.

Cedarville made over 50 percent of its three-point shots (8-for-15) for the first time this season.

Quotable: Head Coach Pat Estepp

"Patrick (Bain) was special tonight. That is the #23 we have been waiting on! They came out in a box-and-one on J.C. (Faubion) and we needed other guys to step up and he really did.

"We started the game well and really defended in both the press and half court. Our press was pretty effective for the first time in a while.

"In the second half, we came out really flat and let them right back in the game. We also just could not convert on layups and free throws. Give Bluefield credit ... they really battled in the second half!

"We had a tough time containing their point guard. We got some good play off the bench late and stops when we had to. (Evan) Kraatz, (Colton) Linkous and (Kwenton) Scott gave us some good minutes.

"We had a renewed focus on attacking the basket and getting offensive rebounds this week and those were two things we did really well."

Numbers Game:

• Bain's previous career-high was 18 vs. Mount Vernon Nazarene on Dec. 12. He had scored 31 points total in the previous five games.
• CU's 23-for-39 showing at the free throw line were season-highs for made and attempted.
• The team's eight three-pointers were the most in seven games (8 vs. Cincinnati Christian).
• It was the initial meeting in the season series between the two schools. The rematch is Feb. 18 in Bluefield, W.Va.
• Bluefield State played the first-ever men's basketball game in the Callan Athletic Center losing, 76-66, to Muskingum on Nov. 20, 1981 in the opening round of the Fourth Annual Cedarville Invitational.
• PDF Stats

Next Up: The Yellow Jackets resume G-MAC action at Ohio Valley on Saturday at 4:00 p.m. EST.

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