WILMINGTON, Ohio – Despite trailing by just a basket with 2:06 on the clock, Otterbein was unable to complete a comeback effort down the stretch en route to ultimately falling 85-77 at Wilmington Friday night.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Otterbein's largest lead of the game was 7-2 early on, but the first half was a back-and-forth battle with neither team leading by more than two possessions.
   
• Wilmington was able to convert on Otterbein's first-half turnovers, turning the giveaways into 11 points and carrying a small 40-39 lead into the break.
   
• The contest stayed within a six-point window across the midway point of the second half, until the Quakers found some breathing room with a quick 9-0 run to seize a double-digit cushion.
   
• Otterbein didn't waver, trimming the gap back down to just two (76-74) with 2:06 on the clock in a stretch where standout Dallas Patrick scored eight-consecutive points.
   
• Wilmington's Jeffery Mansfield responded with a huge trifecta on the other end, and the hosts ultimately scored on three-straight possessions to hold on down the stretch.

 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:

• The game saw 14 lead changes and another six ties.
   
• Patrick once again led all scorers on the evening by pouring in 30, matching his career-high, on 10 of 17 from the field.
   
• Sophomore point guard Bryson Lane also had a career-high effort, scoring 21 points on 6-of-8 shooting while also knocking in 8 of his 9 free throws.
   
• The Wilmington bench was impressive in the victory by scoring 47 points, while the Cards relied heavily on starters with just 13 points off the bench.
   
• Senior Justin Carter made his season debut for the Cards, joining Patrick and Lane as the only other player in double figures with 11 points.  
   

UP NEXT:

• Otterbein will welcome the Quakers to Westerville tomorrow night for the second leg of the home-and-home. Game time is scheduled for 6 p.m.