Oberlin, Ohio – The Oberlin College men's basketball team returned to the hardwood after a 20-day layoff to defeat the visiting Chatham University Cougars 61-47 in the opening game of the Courtyard by Marriott Holiday Classic.
 
Sophomore guard Joshua Friedkin led the Yeomen with 13 points on 5-of-7 shooting to accompany his five assists and three steals. Playing for the first time since November 26, junior Eli Silverman-Lloyd returned to the lineup with 12 points on a 5-of-10 shooting performance.
 
Sophomores Andre Campbell and Christian Fioretti each added nine points, while Fioretti also ripped down a career-high 11 rebounds.
 
Oberlin grabbed an early 7-2 lead on a 3-point play by Campbell, but the Cougars would answer back to claim a 16-11 edge at the 7:52 mark. A string of four straight points by Friedkin had the Yeomen back out in front 20-19, but the Cougars would close the half strong to take a 29-25 lead into the intermission.
 
In the second half, it was all about defense for the Yeomen as they totally took the Cougars out of rhythm, holding them to just one point for over 12 minutes.
 
In the meantime, the Yeomen would build a 43-30 lead before Chatham finally found its first field goal of the frame with 7:46 left to play.
 
A Josh Randall 3-pointer had the Yeomen cushion down to 43-35, but Oberlin answered back with a 9-0 response run that featured five points from Silverman-Lloyd to increase the lead to 17 and leave no doubt in the eventual outcome.
 
The Yeomen shot 47.1 percent (24-of-51) from the floor while holding the Cougars to just a 32.8 percent (19-of-58) success rate. Oberlin also finished with a 39-29 edge on the glass and had a 30-24 margin in points in the paint.
 
Oberlin will play Muskingum tomorrow afternoon at 3 p.m. in the championship game of the Courtyard by Marriott Holiday Classic. The Muskies beat Medaille 88-77 in today's second semifinal to earn a match-up with the Yeomen. The Cougars and Mavericks will square off in the consolation final at 1 p.m.