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WESTERVILLE, Ohio – A blistering second half offensively helped Otterbein pull away for a lopsided margin in its season opener Wednesday night at a well-attended Rike Center, turning back Earlham College by a final score of 92-58.

THE BASICS:

• Otterbein wins its season opener for the fourth-straight season, not counting the unconventional COVID schedule of 2020-21.
   
• The 34 points marks Otterbein's largest margin of victory under Andy Winters, bumping past a couple 30-point wins last season.
   
• The Cards make it two in a row against Earlham after winning a 66-54 contest last year in Richmond, Ind.

THE SCRIPT:

• Otterbein took a 5-3 lead two minutes into the game and led for the next 38 minutes of action. A 16-4 run bridging the midway point of the first half ballooned the hosts advantage to double digits.
   
• Earlham found a little groove to end the opening frame, slicing the gap from 17 to just 11 (38-27) entering intermission.
   
• That 11-point difference remained after five minutes of the second half… before Otterbein took control for good. The Cards ripped off an 18-4 burst crossing the midway point yet again, pushing the gap to 23 and never looking back.

THE BOX SCORE:

• All-American Jack Clement, making his Otterbein debut after transferring from Ohio Wesleyan, and fellow upperclassman guard Cam Evans both scored 22 points on similar shooting efforts from the field.
   
• Julian Heckman added 16 points and five assists himself, making 7 of his 12 attempts from the floor.
   
• The Cardinals shot 52% for the game and a blistering 68% in the second half. Earlham went just 39% from the field collectively.
   
• Otterbein held a 48-30 scoring edge in the paint and also finished with a 28-12 cushion in bench points.
   
• Chase Garito (seven boards) helped lead a 41-26 rebounding margin on the glass for the home side.
   
• Kendell Cave had a double-double for the Quakers, posting game-highs of 22 points and 10 boards.

UP NEXT:

The Cardinals will have a full week off to continue settling in, and will get back to action on October 15 up at Oberlin College. Tip off that contest is slated for 7 p.m.