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GALLIPOLIS, Ohio — The Ohio Valley Christian boys basketball team forced 28 turnovers and shot 42 percent from the field Thursday night en route to a 59-43 triumph over visiting Parkersburg Christian during a non-conference matchup in Gallia County.

The Defenders (4-1) never trailed in the contest and applied a various assortment of defenses to force 17 turnovers in the first half, which allowed the hosts to claim a 35-21 intermission advantage.

The Knights never came closer than 11 points (45-34) the rest of the way, as OVCS closed the final 8:28 of regulation with a 14-9 run to wrap up the 16-point decision.

Ohio Valley Christian and PCHS were tied at two at the 6:40 mark of the first quarter, but the hosts reeled off eight straight points over the next two minutes for a 10-2 edge. Parkersburg Christian closed the quarter with an 11-8 run to trail 18-13 after one quarter of play.

The Knights committed 10 turnovers in the second canto alone, and the Defenders ran off 13 consecutive points during that period to establish a sizable 31-13 lead with 4:25 left in the half. PCHS closed the second quarter with an 8-4 spurt over the final 3:43 to pull within 35-21 at the break.

The Defenders led by as many as 18 points four different times in the contest, including twice in the second half. Parkersburg Christian used a 13-12 third quarter run to get within 47-34, but OVCS countered with a 12-9 run down the stretch to wrap up the six-possession outcome.

Ohio Valley Christian had only seven turnovers in the victory, including zero miscues in the fourth quarter. PCHS had 11 turnovers in the second half, with just four of those coming in the final eight minutes.

The hosts were 26-of-62 overall from the field, including a 3-of-5 effort from three-point range for 60 percent. The Defenders were also 4-of-8 at the free throw line for 50 percent. The Knights, conversely, were 10-of-23 at the charity stripe for 43 percent.

T.G. Miller led OVCS with a game-high 16 points, followed by Chance Burleson with 14 points and Phil Hollingshead with 12 markers. Caleb McKitrick chipped in nine points to the winning cause, while Evan Bowman and Marshall Hood respectively rounded things out with six points and two points.

Austin Alley paced Parkersburg Christian with 13 points, followed by Eric Wade and Aaron Beam with nine markers apiece.