BEREA, Ohio — John Carroll coach Mike Moran was honored by the Baldwin Wallace basketball program prior to Wednesday night’s Ohio Athletic Conference game between the crosstown rivals.
Moran is stepping down as the Blue Streaks’ coach at the end of the season. As is his character, he accepted the plaque and kind words from Baldwin Wallace coach Tom Heil with grace and gratitude. And then, as is Moran’s habit, he watched his team win.
“One thing about our conference — we have a great camaraderie,” Moran said after John Carroll’s 75-67 victory, its 12th win in its last 13 games. “And it’s very competitive.
“(Being recognized) means a lot to me. It truly does. It’s nice. I don’t know what to say.”
Guard-foward Matthew Csuhran hit five 3-point shots and finished with 19 points as the Blue Streaks improved to 15-6. They’re 12-3 in the OAC. Marietta and Ohio Northern have 13-2 conference records.
Point guard David Linane and guard Ryan Berger scored 15 points each for John Carroll, and forward Doug Caputo totaled 11 points and eight rebounds.
Moran, who began coaching soon after his graduation from Xavier University in 1973, is in his 25th season at John Carroll. His teams have a 466-231 record and have earned NCAA Division III national tournament bids 12 times. The Blue Streaks advanced to the Final Four in 2004. Moran coached Villa Angela-St. Joseph to two state championships in his 11 seasons at the Cleveland high school. He plans to stay on as John Carroll’s golf coach.
The Blue Streaks played one of their better defensive games of the season, as their man-to-man defense held the Yellow Jackets to 32 percent shooting.
“We were delighted,” Moran said. “We came in at halftime and had given up only 28 points. We’re getting better at that. They’re tough. Tommy Heil does a great job. You see how hard they play.”
Guard Jay Battle scored 16 points and made all four of his 3-point shots for Baldwin Wallace (10-12, 5-10), but his teammates were 7-of-38 from long distance. Forward Mike Kaminski netted 12 points.
“Coach Moran does a great job,” Heil said. “Their identity is that they play so hard … how hard they defend, how hard they go to the glass.
“We’re capable of shooting it in, but whether it was their defensive intensity or us rushing it a little, we struggled with it.”
John Carroll led, 38-36, early in the second half, but went on a 20-7 run for a 58-43 lead with 7:30 left.
Caputo and forward Simon Kucharewicz, both working inside, scored seven and six points, respectively, during the rally and Csuhran canned a 3-pointer.
“What helped us is that we pushed the basketball,” said Linane, one of the OAC’s premier playmakers. “When we get a little relaxed, we don’t play as well. Our game is to run, push it and shoot it.”
— MIKE PETICCA, Special to The Plain Dealer
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