Oberlin, Ohio - The Oberlin College men's basketball team opened the Air National Guard Tip-Off Classic with a wire-to-wire 78-69 win over the visiting Lawrence University Vikings on Friday night at Philips Gym. 

Oberlin got a career-best performance from junior guard Zach Smith as he posted 25 points, cashing in 7-of-8 3-point attempts along the way. Senior point guard Yuuki Okubo was sensational, stuffing the stat sheet with 14 points, 13 assists, and six steals in the win. 

Sophomore JJ Gray added 12 points and seven boards, while senior Andrew Gannon was one rebound shy of a double-double with 10 points and nine rebounds. 

A triple-hit from Okubo gave Oberlin an early 10-4 advantage but the Vikings were able to stay close throughout the first seven minutes of the game, twice getting within one. However, a Dut Lual finish in the paint had the Yeomen out in front by 10, 29-19, at the midway point of the session. Another long-range strike from Okubo made it a 39-25 game with just over five minutes left in the half and the Yeomen would ultimately carry a comfortable 45-34 margin into the intermission. 

However, the comfortable feeling went away shortly after the restart. After initially increasing its lead out to 15, Oberlin fell victim to a 15-2 Lawrence run that shrunk the lead down to two, 53-51, at the 14:03 mark. A big Will Bousquette III 3-pointer finally stopped the bleeding and Oberlin was able to regain control pushing the differential back up to 10, 64-54, on a putback layup from Gannon with 9:02 left to expire. 

The Yeomen advantage would swell to 14 but the Vikings wouldn't go away quietly, working the deficit down to six in the final minute thanks to some increased defensive pressure and poor free throw shooting by the Yeomen. 

Oberlin shot 43.8 percent from the floor, cashing in 28-of-64 shots, which included a 13-of-26 (50%) showing from distance. The Yeomen offense was in rhythm, registering 22 assists on their 28 makes. 

Oberlin has a quick turnaround as it plays Washington Jefferson in the championship game tomorrow at 2:30 p.m. The Presidents beat Clarkson University earlier in the evening, 56-49. The Golden Knights and Vikings will play in a consolation game tomorrow at noon.