In a game that featured 13 lead changes and seven ties, Oberlin's Morgan Jones and Aaron Gibbs helped lead Ohio Dominican’s men’s basketball team to one of its biggest wins in school history, taking down Division I Southern Illinois of the Missouri Valley Conference, 64-63, on Saturday night.

The victory is ODU’s first over a current D-I program, dating back to the 1984-85 season. The Panthers had been 0-8 against D-I teams.

Jones led Ohio Dominican with 15 points, hitting 6 of 12 from the field, and had a game-high five steals.

Gibbs also had eight rebounds and a pair of blocks in the win.

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Oberlin’s Morgan Jones led Ohio Dominican with a team-high 17 points, but the Panthers missed 13 of 17 free throws and couldn’t hang on to a first half lead, falling 78-69 to Lake Superior State in a GLIAC game Thursday night.

The Panthers fell to 4-13 (1-10 GLIAC) with the defeat.

Ohio Dominican was able to trim the lead to four points on a pair of occasions in the opening five and a half minutes of the second half. Kapron’s turnaround jumper kept ODU within five at 49-44 at the 12:37 mark, but LSSU took over from that point, scoring the next seven points to build a 56-44 advantage with 10:43 left. The lead remained above eight until the 1:56 mark when Jones buried a jumper from the free throw line to make it 67-61. The Lakers answered with a three on their next possession, though, and ODU could not challenge down the stretch.

Jones led five Panthers in double figures with 17 on 8 of 14 shooting. Oberlin native Aaron Gibbs also had his third double-double in the past four games with 10 points and a game-high 10 rebounds.

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Behind a career night from Oberlin’s Morgan Jones, Ohio Dominican won its second straight game, defeating Urbana 80-73 on Wednesday night.

Jones set a new career-high with 24 points, hitting all four of his three-pointers, and matching his career-high with seven rebounds. Oberlin native Aaron Gibbs had his seventh career double-double with 10 points and a season-high 13 rebounds.

The Panthers (4-10) won despite hitting just 40 percent of their shots (26-of-65), compared to 44.8 percent (26-of-58) for the host Blue Knights. Ohio Dominican made a season-best 21 free throws though, hitting 80.8 percent from the line, including 16-of-20 in the second half.

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Oberlin native Aaron Gibbs and Oberlin graduate Morgan Jones helped lead Ohio Dominican to an 11-point second half comeback, winning 65-62 over Mid-Continent University in the championship game of the Red Roof Inn Roundball Classic on Saturday in Alumni Hall.

Down 59-52, junior Zak Kapron hit two free throws, and Jones swiped a rebound away from MCU’s Tim Bryant and laid it in to bring ODU to within 59-56 with 3:25 left.

After three missed shots, Gibbs took a pass in the post and spun right for an open layup to make it a one-point game. Then, after Kapron stole an inbounds pass, Trew buried a three-pointer from the left wing to give Ohio Dominican its first lead of the second half at 61-59 with 1:21 to play.

The Panther defense forced another Cougar miss, and Kapron missed a short jumper, but Gibbs was there for the tip-in to extend ODU’s lead to 63-59 with 40 seconds to play. Mid-Continent missed two more shots, and Jones picked up the rebound and hit two free throws to seal the win.

Gibbs led ODU with 13 points and also had seven rebounds to go along with three assists. Jones finished with four points and four rebounds.

Gibbs was named the tournament MVP and Trew was named to the all-tournament team as well.

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Oberlin's Aaron Gibbs and Southview's Adriene Rodriguez were rewarded for their outstanding tournament playing for Ohio Dominican, earning a spot on the All-Conference team from the Association of Independent Institutions (A.I.I.) tournament played last week.

Ohio Dominican made it to the championship game in its first and only season in the A.I.I. before losing to Johnson & Wales, 65-60.

Johnson & Wales will make their second straight appearance in the NAIA Men's Basketball Division II National Championships.

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Oberlin 's Aaron Gibbs was named the Association of Independent Institutions (A.I.I.) Male Athlete of the Week for last week’s performance playing for Ohio Dominican.

In the final week of the season, Gibbs posted 64 points over the Panthers two games at the A.I.I. Division II Men's Basketball Championship.

The sophomore forward led the Panthers to the A.I.I. Championship game after scoring 24 and grabbing nine rebounds versus Walla Walla University in the semifinals.

In the Championship final, the Panthers came up just short, falling 65-60 to Johnson and Wales, however Gibbs registered 16 points and seven rebounds in the loss.

swalker@MorningJournal.com

Southview's Adriene Rodriguez scored a career-high 24 points and helped lead Ohio Dominican to its third-straight win, a 80-69 overtime win over the University of Northwestern on Tuesday night.

With just over a minute left in regulation, Rodriguez hit a 17-foot jumper to tie the game at 63-63.

Along with hitting the clutch shot send the game into overtime, Rodriguez paced the Panthers with a game-high 24 points, which is also his college high.

Oberlin's Aaron Gibbs also scored in double digits with 11.

After starting off the season 0-5, Rodriguez, Gibbs and the Panthers have found their rhythm with three straight wins.

Their other wins came against Calumet College of St. Joseph (Indiana) by the score of 74-52 and University of Michigan-Dearborn, 88-76 in the Red Roof Inn Thanksgiving Classic last week. Gibbs recorded a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds, five blocks and four assists to lead the Panthers in the win over Calumet, while Rodriguez scored 15 points and dished six assists in the win over UM-D.

The Panthers look to extend their winning streak to four when they travel to Mount Vernon Friday for the Mount Vernon Nazarene Tournament. ODU will tip-off against Concordia University at 6 p.m.

swalker@MorningJournal.com

Southview's Adriene Rodriguez is using his senior year at Ohio Dominican as motivation.

Rodriguez, who entered this season a four-year starting point guard for the Panthers, is playing this basketball season with the motivation of helping his team earn a national tournament berth, possibly grab a future spot overseas playing professionally and a earn a place in ODU school history as he nears 1,000 career points and 300 assists.

Ohio Dominican, a former Division III school, is in a transition year as it moves up to D-II next season.

So the Panthers will have to compete this season as an independent member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletic (NAIA), playing in the Association of Independent Institutions (A.I.I.). They'll still have the opportunity to qualify for the NAIA National Championship Tournament, but will not get a chance to play for a Mideast Conference championship or its normal conference awards.

Next season, ODU, along with Lake Erie College, will join the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC), and officially be a D-II NCAA team.

Meanwhile, Rodriguez is focused on helping his team get through this season, while he looks forward to his future.

"I'm real excited because it's my last year and I'm looking forward to seeing how good my senior year can turn out," said Rodriguez, who entered the season with 813 points and 242 assists. "Hopefully, if everything goes good, I can just keep playing basketball and then play professionally somewhere."

Going into tonight's game at Cedarville University, ODU is off to a 0-4 start, but Rodriguez isn't worried.

Beside a 34-point loss to Georgetown College (91-57), the Panthers have been in close games in their other three losses to McKendree University (65-53), Ashland University (66-61) and Spring Arbor University (67-60). The Panthers even had an early 15-point lead against D-II Ashland and led by seven in the fourth quarter, but ended up losing by five.

"We're young," Rodriguez said. "We have a whole bunch of new looks and new offenses and defenses. It's been tough so far, but our team is starting to come together a little bit more. We're getting better and better everyday, but it's a work in progress. Hopefully, we can get to where we want to be soon."

Rodriguez, a team captain, has learned a lot in his four years at Ohio Dominican.

"I've learned to just try to let the game come to me and try not to do too much," Rodriguez said. "I try to control my team and be more of a leader. My leadership on the court has improved. I've become more of floor general and a leader vocally. I've improved defensively, because in college, coaches are more defensive-minded."

Last season, Rodriguez was named honorable mention All-American Mideast Conference for his play after finishing his third-straight year as the Panthers' starting point guard. He averaged nearly 13 points per game on an up-and-down year, adjusting to a new coach Artie Taylor, who completed his second year at the helm.

"I was excited about it, but at the same time I wasn't satisfied," Rodriguez said. "I knew that I could do better than that if I kept working."

The Panthers won three straight to end the regular season and finished .500 at 15-15 overall, but just missed the conference tournament after finishing in a four-way tie with Notre Dame, Rio Grande, and Daemon — who won the tie-breaker to earn a postseason berth.

"We haven't made it to a national tournament in my three years so knowing that it's my senior year and my last chance to do it motivates me," Rodriguez said. "Our goals as a team is to win 20-25 games and make the national tournament."

Rodriguez battled a high ankle sprain his sophomore season and had to sit out nearly two months. He still made 11 starts in 26 games played and finished fifth on the team in scoring (8.7 ppg) and third in assists (61). He also recorded 21 steals.His freshman year, he appeared in all 31 games and averaged 29 minutes and eight points per game, while leading the team in assists with 91.

While at Southview, Rodriguez averaged 22 points and four assists per game and was selected the Lake Erie League Player of the Year, along with first team All-Lorain County and All-Morning Journal. He was also an honorable mention All-Ohio and second team All-District.

"Time has gone by so fast," Rodriguez said. "I thought high school went by fast, but I think college went by even faster. It's been a good experience playing college basketball. I'm glad that I did take this opportunity. I feel like it not only make me a better person on the court, but off the court as well. College has done a lot for me. I'm just grateful that I had the opportunity to play."

Rodriguez feels fortunate that he was able to play four years of college basketball and still has a dream of playing professional. And if that doesn't pan out, he plans on using his criminal justice degree and become a probation officer or a parole officer.

"It's always been a dream of mine to play basketball professionally," Rodriguez said. "It always has been something I've always wanted to do. If the opportunity is there, I will jump up on that. If something happens and I can't go play overseas, I'll always have my degree to fall back on."

Other local Panthers at ODU

Also joining Rodriguez at ODU are Oberlin's Aaron Gibbs and Morgan Jones.

Gibbs, a sophomore, scored 17 points and grabbed nine rebounds in his first game with the Panthers and continues to impress in a starting role. Jones has averaged three points coming off the bench.

Gibbs is a transfer from Division I Presbyterian College, where he made three starts and played in 29 games, after red-shirting as a freshman. He graduated from Myers Park High School in North Carolina after attending Oberlin his freshman and sophomore season.

Jones, a freshman walk-on, is Oberlin's all-time leading scorer and averaged 34 points, seven steals, four rebounds and two assists per game last season for the Phoenix.

swalker@MorningJournal.com

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Southview's Adrienne Rodriguez was named honorable mention All-American Mideast Conference for his play this season at Ohio Dominican University, announced last month.

Rodriguez, a junior, finished his second straight year as the Panthers' starting point guard. He averaged nearly 13 points per game this season on an up-and-down year, adjusting to a new coach Artie Taylor, who completed his second year at the helm.

Rodriguez battled some injuries his sophomore season, and made 11 starts in 26 games played for the Panthers. He still finished fifth on the team in scoring (8.7 ppg) and was third in assists (61). He also recorded 21 steals.

His freshman year, he appeared in all 31 games and averaged 29 minutes and eight points per game, while leading the team in assists with 91.

While at Southview, Rodriguez averaged 22 points and four assists per game and was selected the Lake Erie League Player of the Year, along with first team All-Lorain County and All-Morning Journal. He was also an honorable mention All-Ohio and second team All-District.

Ohio Dominican won three straight to end the regular season and finished .500 at 15-15 overall. The Panthers just missed the conference tournament after finishing in a four-way tie with Notre Dame, Rio Grande, and Daemon - who won the tie-breaker to earn a postseason berth.

Rodriguez will enter his senior season at ODU next year and it should be a promising one.

I had the honor of coaching him in baseball when he was 8 and 9 years old, and he is one of the best overall athletes I've coached in my 14 years of coaching.

No one has still been able to do what he did one summer afternoon - hit for the cycle and pull off an unassisted triple play in the same game. Oh yea, he also had six RBIs.

swalker@MorningJournal.com