ADRIAN, Mich. – It wasn't quite as suspenseful as last year's buzzer-beating finish in the Rike Center, but Otterbein stood on top once again vs. Adrian College in a non-conference showdown up north.
The Cardinals, winning this matchup (71-70) last season on a trifecta from
Cam Evans to beat the horn, had a more comfortable trip this time around to secure a 79-70 victory inside the Merrilat Center.
Otterbein led by more than 20 in the second half before a late run by the Bulldogs trimmed the final margin. Nevertheless, the Cards improve to 6-2 this winter and have taken all but one game outside the OAC slate.
THE SCRIPT:
- Otterbein dropped 20 points in the first six minutes of game time, opening a double-digit lead and never trailing the entire night.
- Adrian hung close temporarily and only trailed by five (27-22) with six and change left before intermission… but the Cardinals responded with a 15-5 run to reopen a double-digit cushion entering the break.
- The Bulldogs, again, sliced the gap to single digits early in the second frame before a 16-2 run (over the next five minutes) allowed Otterbein to blow the game wide open. Multiple Cardinals converted buckets in the span, ending with Brennan Rains making five free throws.
- Adrian played until the final whistle, posting a 13-2 run over the closing four-plus minutes to shrink the official result.
BOX SCORE NOTABLES:
- Adrian shot 50% for the game but was held to just a 4-of-21 output from behind the arc. Otterbein connected on 9 of 17 from three-point range and was also a very efficient 80% (20 of 25) at the charity stripe.
- Four Cardinals scored in double figures by way of Cam Evans (16), Dallas Patrick (15), Julian Heckman (13) and Bryson Lane (11). Patrick led all players with eight rebounds while Lane, coming off the bench, had four assists and made all seven free throws.
- Eight players scored five or more points for Otterbein.
- Victor Sheffey poured in a game-high 22 for the hosts, which committed 22 turnovers on the night.
- A combined total of 46 points were scored off turnovers as a whole.
LOOKING AHEAD:
- Otterbein will have a quick turnaround before the weekend and get right back on the road, heading up to Baldwin Wallace for an OAC contest this Saturday at 2 p.m.
