Box Score

WESTERVILLE, OHIO – Otterbein University couldn’t capitalize on a turnover in the final seconds of a closely contested game against the University of Mount Union as it dropped its Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) opener 84-81 Saturday night in the Rike Center.

The loss dropped the Cardinals to 2-3 overall and 0-1 in the OAC, while the Purple Raiders improved to 2-4 overall and 1-0 in the OAC.

Trailing 82-81 with 4.4 seconds left, junior guard Brice Rausch intercepted an inbounds pass by the Purple Raiders at the Cardinals’ end. However, without any timeouts left, his hurried pass to the paint was stolen back by Mount Union, sealing the Purple Raiders’ victory.

After a back-and-forth first half, the Purple Raiders held a 36-35 lead. The lead continued to change hands early in the second half, but Otterbein would take its final lead of the game when junior center Chris Davis made a lay-up with 10:16 remaining to make the score 60-59.

Otterbein tied the score 75-75 when Davis hit one of two free throws with 2:10 remaining, but Mount Union immediately answered, taking the lead for good.

Rausch totaled 26 points, which was one shy of tying his career high. Davis recorded 20 points and sophomore center Zach Bakenhester added 10 of his own. Freshman point guard C.J. Julian scored nine points and tallied a career-high 10 assists. Freshman forward Max Van Meter scored a career-high nine points.

Mount Union had three players score in double digits and were led by sophomore forward Matt Kiger who had 20. Senior guard Ben Hodkinson recorded a double-double with 19 points and 12 assists.

Mount Union shot 59.1 percent from the field for the game, including a blistering 77.3 percent in the second half on 17-of-22 shooting. Otterbein shot 50.9 percent for the game.

The Cardinals are scheduled to remain at home Wednesday against league-opponent Ohio Northern University. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m.