CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Otterbein men's basketball team was dealt its first loss of the season Thursday night on the road, dropping an 84-73 contest at host Case Western Reserve inside Horsburgh Gym.

The Cardinals, winning their initial two contests with Franklin and Denison, will have the weekend off the regroup before hosting Waynesburg next Tuesday evening in the Rike Center.

WHAT WENT DOWN:

• The game saw ties at 15-15 and 17-17 midway through the first half, and the Cardinals only trailed 30-26 later on after a three-pointer from Alex Hannah.
   
• Case Western (5-1) found a groove to end the first half, embarking on a 15-2 run over the next three minutes to open a 17-point advantage. Dallas Patrick scored six-straight points for Otterbein heading into intermission, leaving the deficit at 47-36.
   
• Patrick scored another seven points to begin the second half, all part of a 13-0 push himself, as the Cards clawed back to within a possession (49-46) early in the period…
   
• The Spartans countered with a 10-0 run, however, extending the lead back to double figures and keeping Otterbein at arm's length down the stretch.
   
• The Cardinals whittled the margin down to just six with 4:28 in regulation, but would not get any closer.

 
STATS THAT MATTERED:

• Patrick dropped a career-high 32 points, shooting 13 of 18 from the field while also snagging six rebounds. It marked his ninth college game at 25 points or more.
   
• Dominic Cantrella marked the only other Cardinal in double figures at 12 points. Otterbein was just 6 of 24 from long range throughout.
   
• Case Western shot a blistering 60 percent in the first half and settled with an even 50 percent for the night. Cole Frilling led the way with 31 points.
   
• Both teams combined for 70 points in the paint while CWRU shot 17 of 30 from the free-throw line.

 
LOOKING AHEAD:

• Otterbein's second home game next Tuesday will be the nightcap of a doubleheader with the women's team, which kickstarts the night (also against Waynesburg) at 5 p.m.