PHOTO GALLERY

WESTERVILLE, Ohio – In a classic rally to end the game, Otterbein stunned Oberlin with a 10-2 run in the final minutes Wednesday night and capped the sequence with a buzzer-beating trifecta from star guard Cam Evans inside the Rike Center.

Down 55-48 with just over two minutes to play after a tough second half, the Cardinals stayed the course to elude an admirable road performance from the Oberlin in non-conference action. After the dust cleared, Otterbein stood on top with a thrilling 58-57 triumph on yet another hero moment by the junior guard.

The Cardinals improve to 2-0 this season with the result while a balanced Oberlin squad falls to 1-3 overall despite some narrow defeats in the early going. Evans posted new career-highs of 25 points and nine rebounds on the evening.

HOW IT PLAYED OUT:

• Both teams shot roughly 38% in the first half, but the Cards made a timely plays in key moments to hold a 30-21 edge at the break. A three-pointer by freshman Julian Heckman in the closing minute pushed the gap to three possessions.
   
• Otterbein struggled to score in the second half as Oberlin began clawing back, taking its first lead of the game on a jumper from Dorde Otasevic with 11:17 remaining. The Yeomen eventually led 45-38 entering the homestretch, all part of a wild 18-4 run across the midway point.
   
• The Cards inched closer but still found themselves down three possessions with 3:28 showing on the clock, before a three-pointer from Evans and key fast-break finish from Bryson Lane made it a one-possession dogfight…
   
• Eventually, Otterbein secured a defensive stop with 11 seconds left to regain possession down two… 57-55. A broken play ensued before Alex Hannah quickly corralled the ball, finding Evans a few feet beyond the top of the key for his latest kodak moment.
   

NOTABLE STATS:

• Oberlin finished with a 41-28 edge in rebounding, led by 16 points and 13 boards from Otasevic.
   
• Both teams struggled from behind the arc, combining to shoot 13 of 57 over the contest.
   
• Hannah scored 14 as the only other Cardinal in double figures.
   
• Eight different Otterbein players recorded at least one assist on the night.
   
• The Yeomen shot just three free throws all night while the Cards went 8 of 12 at the line.

 
UP NEXT:
Otterbein will have a quick 48-hour turnaround, heading over to play Earlham College on Friday night at 7:30 p.m.