Men's Basketball Triumphs in Home Opener Against Kenyon

MOUNT VERNON, Ohio. —  The Mount Vernon Nazarene University men's basketball team (1-0) kicked off its 2024-25 season on Saturday, November 2, with a matchup against the Kenyon College Owls in Ariel Arena.

The Cougars and Owls engaged in a tight back-and-forth battle in the first half, with MVNU holding a narrow 26-24 lead at the 8:24 mark. The Cougars seized control, outscoring Kenyon by 21 points for the remainder of the first half, heading into halftime with a 47-31 lead.

MVNU maintained its momentum in the second half, achieving the largest lead of the day of 28 points at the 10:36 mark, with a score of 64-36. Ultimately, the Cougars delivered a strong opening performance across all aspects of the game, securing a decisive 83-57 victory.

Inside the Box Score:

MVNU shot an impressive 55.1% from the field (27-49) and hit 50.0% of its three-point attempts (13-26).

Kenyon shot 32.0% from the field (16-50) and hit 16.7% (3-18) of its three-point attempts.

MVNU outrebounded Kenyon with a 36-29 advantage on the boards.

The Cougars showed strong bench scoring, outpacing the Owls 39 to 28.

Mason Harvey – 22 points (6-10 FG, 4-7 3PT), 4 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 block

Bailey Conrad – 14 points (4-9 FG, 3-6 3PT), 5 rebounds, 2 steals, and 2 blocks

Carter Jones – 14 points (6-9 FG, 2-4 3PT), 4 rebounds and 2 assists

Milton Gage – 8 points (4-5 FG), 5 rebounds and 3 assists

Peyton Heiss – 4 points (1-5 FG, 1-2 3PT), 7 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals

Coach Ronai's Thoughts:

"Really proud of our group. We had a lot of guys playing their first college game today and they played hard and together. Thought we set the tone defensively and moved the ball on the offensive end. Excited to get better next week".

What's Next:

Men's basketball returns to action on Friday, November 8, kicking off Homecoming weekend. The Cougars will face off against the Trinity Christian College Trolls at 7:30 p.m. inside Ariel Arena.

Mount Vernon Nazarene University is a private, four-year, intentionally Christian teaching university for traditional age students, graduate students, and working adults. With a 327-acre main campus in Mount Vernon, Ohio, MVNU emphasizes academic excellence, spiritual growth, and service to community and church. MVNU offers an affordable education both in-seat and online to nearly 2,000 students from 25 states and 11 foreign countries.