WATCH POST-GAME
CEDARVILLE, Ohio –
Anthony Ruffolo scored 30 points - including four clutch free throws in the final seconds — as Cedarville stunned No. 14 Lincoln Memorial, 85–82.
The Yellow Jackets improved to 2–2 with their second straight win.
Ruffolo finished an efficient 10-for-13 from the floor and 6-for-7 from beyond the arc while adding seven rebounds and six assists.
He converted a pair of one-and-ones in the last 15 seconds to keep the Railsplitters at bay.
Jaylen Davis provided 15 points and
Sam Johnson added 14.
Will Gibson contributed 10 points and five assists.
Lincoln Memorial jumped out to a 17-8 lead, but CU responded with an 18-4 run including one string of 12 unanswered points.
It was 40-29 at the half and the Jackets pushed the difference out to as much as 61-47 with 12:30 to play.
Lincoln Memorial got to within one point three times in the final 1:10, but Ruffolo nailed a jumper with 43 seconds to go before hitting the four key free throws down the stretch.
Quotable: Head Coach Rob Jones
"We showed tremendous resilience. It was a great fight, great composure. In a game where we got in a hole at the very beginning I couldn't have been prouder of how our guys responded to that. There was no panic on their part. We knew we had to play a little bit better and we kept pushing forward.
"The guys did a great job of helping each other. Our timeouts were filled with energy and voices and encouragement. They definitely fed off of the crowd - the crowd was tremendous. That played a huge role in the energy from our guys."
Quotable: Anthony Ruffolo
"Honestly, I was more worried about handling the ball against their defensive pressure. They were out heavy. We were trying to get into our offense and make 1-2-3 passes. We knew once we did that the looks would be there. I was just trying to take the good ones and not worrying if they were going in or not.
"We needed to keep them out of transition. That's what they want to do - just get downhill. We were heavy on our gaps and forcing them to make multiple passes because it's just not what they want to do. We wanted to outlast them on both ends of the court."
Quotable: Jaylen Davis
"One thing we talked about in the lockerroom was readiness and response. We knew we were going to get punched in the mouth early so we needed to respond and I thought we did a pretty good job at that. This is just setting the standard. We know we can be that good. I think going forward we know we can beat anybody. Not getting a big head, staying humble, and trusting God are the keys."
Stinger Notes:
- It was just the second meeting between the two schools. CU won the first one in the 1972-73 season, 78-77.
- The Jackets shot 65 percent in the second half and 54.5 percent for the game.
- LMU made 56.5 percent of its shots and controlled the boards, 32-25.
- Each team committed 15 turnovers, but CU outscored the visitors 26-19 off of the turnovers.
- Cedarville finished 13-of-25 from deep for 52 percent.
