WESTERVILLE, Ohio – A blazing start for Otterbein unfortunately wasn't quite enough over a full 40 minutes Wednesday night in a buzzing Rike Center, as the visiting Wilmington Quakers fought and scraped their way back to snag a 78-72 decision after momentum swings throughout.

The Cardinals, swallowing a third-straight loss, now rest 14-10 on the season but have officially secured a spot in next week's six-team Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) Tournament by virtue of other results around the league…

Otterbein is tied for fifth at the moment with Baldwin Wallace, with both sitting one game ahead of Capital in seventh. The Cardinals hold all tiebreakers after sweeping both teams - which play one another on Saturday.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Otterbein was lights out offensively to begin the night, making its first six shots from the field and erupting for 33 points in less than 10 minutes of action. That outburst (which included 10 points from Dallas Patrick before you could blink) ultimately provided the Cardinals a double-digit lead.
   
• Wilmington, led by former Otterbein assistant coach Micah Mills in his first season at the helm, stayed the course and chipped away. The Quakers held the Cards to just 10 points over the final 10-plus minutes of the half, heading into intermission down just 43-39 following a trifecta from Bryce Bird in the closing seconds.
   
• The second half developed into an old-fashioned slugfest, with neither team leading by more than two possessions for almost the entire frame. Wilmington began with a 16-6 run to vault ahead… and later stood on stop 70-62 with under three minutes to play.
   
• Otterbein generated one last push and saw a prime opportunity in the closing minute… getting to within 74-72 after two free throws from Julian Heckman, a defensive stop and then driving layup from Cam Evans. After Wilmington missed the front end of a 1-and-1, the Cards regained possession with a chance to tie or take the lead…
   
• Heckman found Evans for a clean look at the top of the key, but the potential go-ahead shot (with 19 seconds remaining) just barely missed the mark. Wilmington then connected on clinching free throws at the opposite end.

BOX SCORE NOTABLES:

• Otterbein shot 54% in the first half before Wilmington countered to go 58% after the break.
   
• Patrick led all scorers with 19 points while Evans (14) and Jared Kreager (11) joined him in double figures. It marked a single-game high for Kreager, just a sophomore.
   
• The Quakers saw a balanced five players all score in double digits, led by 16 from Izaiah Cathy on a very efficient 7-of-8 effort from the floor.
• Wilmington finished with a 13-0 scoring edge on the fast break.
   
• Both teams made exactly 17 attempts at the free-throw line, with Otterbein going 17 of 22 and Wilmington settling at a similar 17 of 25 output.

 
MOVING FORWARD:

• The Cardinals will head north to play No. 4-ranked Mount Union this weekend in the regular-season finale. The Purple Raiders are currently deadlocked atop the OAC standings with John Carroll.