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WESTERVILLE, Ohio – The Rike Center was loaded with almost every type of emotion you could feel throughout 40 minutes Saturday night, as Otterbein and Capital battled to the wire in a thrilling Roush Auto Rivalry Showdown.

The Cardinals, looking to complete a season sweep of the Comets, erased a double-digit deficit in the second half as a raucous crowd of more than 1,800 remained on its feet down the stretch. However, in the end, a pair of Capital free throws and two narrow misses by Otterbein resulted in a 63-61 decision for the visitors.

Capital (9-7, 4-5 OAC) regains possession of the newly-reinstated rivalry oar, beating Otterbein for the first time (across all sports) in 10 tries this academic year. The Cardinals fall to 11-5 overall after playing in their eighth game decided by two possessions or less. It also marked the first home loss this season.

HOW IT PLAYED OUT:

• Multiple lead changes took place in the early going before the Comets built a 17-10 lead approaching the midway point of the half.
   
• Otterbein closed the gap to trail by just one, but the Purple and White countered to claim another seven-point cushion. The visitors eventually took a 34-29 lead into the break.
   
• Both sides jockeyed for momentum to begin the second half, with Capital eventually finding a groove to open a 50-40 lead. Damon Goodwin's bunch also led by double digits with under eight minutes left before his former assistant, Andy Winters, and the Cardinals made a push…
   
• A 12-2 run over the ensuing four minutes somehow brought Otterbein back to even, 56-56. Both teams then had separate 5-0 runs, leaving the score deadlocked at 61-61 in the closing minute.
   
• After an offensive rebound for Capital, a shooting foul under the hoop was called and Alex Eyink calmly stepped up to bury both attempts in front of the wild Otterbein student section.
   
• Otterbein had two up-close looks late that could have forced overtime. A driving layup from Cam Evans somehow rimmed out, but was corralled by Jake Justice. His short fallaway look from the baseline also just missed the mark as time expired.

 
LOOKING AT THE BOX SCORE:

• Both teams shot nearly identical from the field, with Capital (23 of 53) settling at 43% while Otterbein closed hard to shoot 21 of 50… an even 42%.
   
• Three players from each club made it to double figures in scoring. The Comets were led by a game-high 15 from David Sanford.
   
• Justice (14), Evans (12) and Justin Carter (11) all spearheaded the Cardinal effort. Justice posted all 14 of his in the first half, keeping his team close with four trifectas.
   
• Capital went just 11 of 18 from the free-throw line, battling the rowdy home student section in the second half, while Otterbein almost finished perfect at 14 of 16.

 
UP NEXT:

Otterbein will need to regroup quickly from the emotional battle, as No. 6-ranked Marietta comes to town on Wednesday night.