By Charles Jardine
Assistant Editor
The Franciscan University men’s basketball team narrowly held onto the lead in their conference matchup against the Thiel Bobcats on Jan. 20 at 3 p.m.
Senior guard Joe Ciola opened the game with a fast-break three-pointer followed by a couple of free throws to quickly put the Barons up 5-2.
Guards senior Josh Zimmerman and junior Derrick Derrow joined in with a jumper and free throws to extend the lead to 9-4.
The Barons held a small lead until late in the first half. The Bobcats tied the game at 22, 27 and 29 points before junior center Yann Yonkeu capped off the scoring with a layup to put the Barons up 31-29.
Zimmerman and Yann Yonkeu broke open the scoring for the Barons in the second half to extend the lead to 35-31.
The Barons controlled the tempo of the game in the early second half. Derrow recorded a block and then ran the entire length of the floor to score a jumper and extend the lead to 40-33.
The Bobcats called a timeout in an effort to regroup. Over the next seven minutes, the Bobcats slowly chipped away at the lead and tied the Barons at 47, soon afterwards taking the lead at 51-49.
The Bobcats extended their lead to 4 points, making the score 55-51. The Barons continued trailing until freshman forward Karl Yonkeu tied the game 59-all with two minutes left.
The effort of the Yonkeu brothers was crucial in the final two minutes. Yann Yonkeu recorded a block that kept the game tied, and Karl Yonkeu iced the game with two free throws to push the Barons past the Bobcats 61-59.
The win for the Barons meant all the more since it was on the night they honored legendary Franciscan basketball Coach Hank Kuzma.
The Barons will face Geneva next on Jan. 24 at 7:30 p.m. as they make a late run for the playoffs.