Box Score

WESTERVILLE, Ohio – The Cardinal men’s basketball team fell victim to visiting Wilmington College Wednesday evening, falling 72-61 inside the Rike Center.

Otterbein moves to 5-9 overall and 2-5 as a result of the loss, while the win improves the Quakers to 6-7 this season, 3-4 in Ohio Athletic Conference play.

The game started at a slow pace offensively, but both sides settled in and eventually became locked at 20-20 after an old-fashioned three-point play from Otterbein senior Zach Bakenhaster.

The contest saw its fifth tie at 27-27, but the Cardinals used a pair of three-pointers from junior C.J. Julian as part of a 10-0 run, building  a double-digit advantage before later heading into halftime ahead 37-31.

Julian buried another trifecta to open the second half, but Otterbein clung to a 46-43 lead with 11:41 to play in regulation.

Wilmington continued to apply pressure, tying the game at 48-48 before assuming a 50-48 advantage with 8:36 remaining.

Otterbein stayed close for the moment, but the Wilmington surge would be part of a 14-4 run that ultimately proved to be the difference.

Junior Max Van Meter turned in 18 points and five rebounds for Otterbein, which also got 12 points from Julian and 10 off the bench from junior Jon Juergens.

Wilmington was led by a game-best 22 points from Dwight Johnson, with Malcolm Heard II chipping in a double-double of 11 points and 10 rebounds.

Both sides shot near even from the field, but Wilmington finished with a 41-27 rebounding advantage which included 19 on its offensive end.

The Cards finish out the week at home, hosting Heidelberg University in the Rike Center Saturday evening at 7:30 p.m.