Box Score Post-Game Press Conference Photo Gallery
WESTERVILLE, OHIO – Head Coach Dick Reynolds and the Otterbein University men’s basketball team earned a 68-65 victory over Wilmington College Saturday evening in what was the last home game in Reynolds’ legendary career.
The victory secures the eighth and final spot in next week’s Ohio Athletic Conference Tournament. Otterbein, which finishes the regular season at 9-16 overall and 6-12 in league play, now hits the road Monday evening for a rematch with the fifth-seeded Quakers (12-12, 10-8 OAC). Tip-off is scheduled for 8 p.m.
Hundreds of former players, teammates, school administrators, family, and friends packed the Rike Center in support of Reynolds, who will retire at season’s end from his positions as coach and athletic director after 40 years of service.
“This is my life, this is my family’s life,” said Reynolds, who now has 653 career victories. “If it weren’t for my wife and children, or the wonderful predecessors here that took a chance on me, then I wouldn’t have had a chance to do what I’ve done.”
Reynolds entered the court through a tunnel of former players, and was recognized prior to tip-off as the Otterbein Board of Trustees announced the Rike Center floor will now be known as “Reynolds Court.”
“I’d certainly like to thank the Board of Trustees, President Krendl, and my boss Bob Gatti,” Reynolds said. “The gesture was totally unexpected and quite overwhelming. I haven’t had a chance to digest that quite yet.”
The game was a see-saw battle throughout the entire first half, with Wilmington taking a slim 32-28 lead into halftime.
Wilmington pushed the lead to eight, at 36-28, over the first few minutes of the second half. However, Otterbein responded with a 10-0 run of its own, grabbing a 40-38 edge after a layup from senior Chris Davis at the 13:45 mark.
Wilmington stayed put, and the contest would see four ties over the next four minutes of action before the Cardinals opened a 57-52 lead with 5:21 remaining.
The Cards stood on top 62-56 with 2:45 showing on the game clock, but the Quakers refused to go quietly, scoring six consecutive points to drawn even at 62-62.
Both teams were locked again at 65-65 with 49 seconds to play, but a Chris Davis layup and free-throw from Zach Bakenhaster put Otterbein ahead 68-65 with 15 seconds left.
The Quakers misfired on a three-point attempt, and an offensive rebound from freshman RaNeal Ewing off a missed Cardinal free-throw at the other end would secure the victory.
“I thought we focused in pretty well after all the pregame stuff,” Reynolds said. “We came out strong, had a few instances that shook us a little bit but came out in the second half and really maintained our composure. We made the crucial plays we needed to at crucial times.”
“The whole purpose was to play in order to play again,” Reynolds continued. “I told the guys before the game that this is tournament time, and we’re not just playing because of the position that I’m in. I wanted to win because we were playing the game, not because it was my last home game.”
Otterbein held a staggering 41-18 rebounding edge despite turning the ball over 19 times. The Cards shot .529 from the field while Wilmington was .447 from the floor. Both teams combined to shoot just 3 of 20 from three-point range.
Davis and Bakenahster were sensational down low for an Otterbein team that scored 46 of its 68 points in the paint.
Davis posted game-highs of 22 points, 14 rebounds, and six assists, while Bakenhaster turned in an all-around effort of 19 points, eight rebounds, five assists, and a game-best four steals.
Max Van Meter scored 10 points for Otterbein while senior Brice Rausch added nine.
“The crowd was amazing, and just coming together to work as a team to get the win was great,” said Bakenhaster. “It was great to do it for the seniors who were going out, and also for coach.”
“You have to appreciate how many people came to support coach, because it was a tight game and it really gave us that extra adrenaline we needed,” Davis added. “It was really something. Everyone was on their feet at the end and it just gives truth to what coach has done over the last 40 years that so many people came back.”
Wilmington was led by 19 points from Antonio Bowman, who surpassed 1,000 for his career in the loss.
Davis, Rausch, and fellow seniors Mark Louks and Steve Isaac were recognized pregame for their contributions to the program over the last four years. The 1981 and 1991 Final Four teams, along with the 2002 national championship group, were honored during halftime.
