Box Score Photo GalleryWESTERVILLE, Ohio – Cross-town rivals Otterbein University and Capital University competed throughout another intense basketball matchup Saturday evening in the Rike Center, with the Crusaders ultimately prevailing by a score of 63-55.
The win for Capital splits the season series between the schools after Otterbein claimed a 77-72 road win back in early January. The result also eliminates the Cardinals from postseason contention, with only the top-eight teams making the upcoming conference tournament.
Both sides began trading scores to begin the contest, with the visiting Crusaders opening a 16-10 lead (biggest of the half) by the 11:44 mark.
Otterbein (3-20, 2-14 OAC) found a groove later on in the period, using a quick 8-0 run to seize a 25-20 advantage with 5:37 to play before intermission. Capital (7-16, 5-11 OAC) responded with five-consecutive points to draw even before ultimately entering the break with a slim 34-32 advantage.
The Tan and Cardinal out-rebounded Capital 24-12 in the opening half, including 13 offensive boards, but saw the Crusaders shoot a solid 48 percent from the floor. Otterbein senior Marshall Crum scored 13 points in 11 minutes during the first frame, one shy of his career-high.
Capital bumped its lead to eight early in the second half, but Otterbein hung close and trailed by only four, 51-47, after Jake Phillis sank a pair of free throws with 7:35 showing on the game clock.
The score remained the same for over a minute until Capital's Adam Blake buried a timely three-pointer from the left wing, bumping the lead back to seven. Otterbein never got any closer the remainder of the way as the Purple and White pulled away in the closing minutes.
Crum, recognized prior to tip-off as part of Senior Night, posted a new career-high of 15 points to lead the Cardinals. He was 5 of 6 from the field and also hauled in a team-best six rebounds.
Phillis recorded 12 points, coming off the bench for the first time this year after missing the previous game with an injury. Otterbein played the game without second-leading scorer Matt Hughes (injury), who led the way in the first meeting with 20 points and 10 rebounds.
Otterbein committed a season-low 11 turnovers and held a 35-23 rebounding edge, although did not snag any offensive rebounds after halftime. Capital finished at an even 50 percent from the field for the game while the Cards came in at 40 percent, including a 6-of-21 effort from downtown.
Capital's Andrew Bolka, the league's leading rebounder at over nine per game, led his team with a double-double effort of 18 points and 10 caroms, both game highs.
Otterbein finishes out the season with a pair of road games, visiting nationally-ranked Marietta College on Wednesday before a Saturday afternoon game at Heidelberg University.
