Box Score A two-week layoff did little to slow the momentum of 18th-ranked Case Western Reserve University, as the Spartans put a season-high in points on the board in an 89-71 win at Capital University in Columbus, Ohio on Tuesday night.
With the win the Spartans improved to 5-0 overall, marking the first time in program history the team has won each of its first five games. It was also the team's 15th-consecutive non-conference regular season win, dating back to last year. Capital dropped to 2-3 following the loss.
All five CWRU starters scored in double figures on Tuesday night, led by a career-high 20-point output from junior forward Ian Elam, who shot an efficient nine-for-12 from the floor and added nine rebounds (also a career-best mark). Sophomore forward Umar Rashid also finished a rebound shy of a double-double, scoring 13 points and collecting nine boards and three blocks. Junior guard Luke Thorburn recorded his second double-double of the campaign, finishing the game with 10 points and a career-high matching 11 rebounds, while senior forward Cole Frilling tallied 15 points and six rebounds, and graduate student guard Danny Frauenheim registered 11 points and five assists.
The Spartans and the Comets played a close first half, with CWRU getting through the first 20 minutes with a six-point lead, 39-33. However, CWRU opened the second half on a 20-6 run over the first seven minutes to go ahead by 20 points, 59-39. The Spartans remained ahead by double figures the rest of the way and took a game-high 23-point lead in the closing minutes of the game.
A dominating performance on the glass was a huge factor for the Spartans on Tuesday night, who finished the game with a 45-32 edge in rebounds. CWRU outscored Capital 20-13 on second-chance opportunities.
While the game was close early, the Spartans led for most of the contest and never trailed by more than four points. A three-pointer by Rashid with 10:08 left in the first half turned a 19-18 CWRU deficit into a 21-19 lead, and CWRU never fell behind again in the contest. A pair of free throws by Thorburn with 4:04 left in the first stanza gave the Spartans a seven-point lead, their largest of the half, and Elam put back a pair of offensive rebounds for baskets in the final minute of the period to allow CWRU to take a six-point lead into the break. It began a stretch where Elam scored 12 of the team's 14 points that continued into the start of the second half.
CWRU outshot Capital 44.8% to 40.3% overall in the game, including a 41.7% to 29.2% edge from behind the arc. The Spartans hit 10 three-pointers in the game, the team's third effort of 10 or more threes in a contest through five games this season.
The Spartans will return home to host Adrian College on Saturday, December 3 at 3:00 p.m. inside Horsburgh Gymnasium.
