PHOTO GALLERY (coming soon)

WESTERVILLE, Ohio – Another stingy defensive effort led the Cardinals to their fourth win across the last five contests on Wednesday night, getting even with another league opponent by taking down Ohio Northern 65-53 in the Rike.

Both sides, playing for the second time in three weeks, last met to begin the new year and ONU emerged with a comfortable win on its home floor. This time around, Otterbein's top-ranked defense (in the conference) held the visitors to just 32% shooting in leading almost the entire way.

HOW IT PLAYED OUT:

• The first half remained a one-possession battle for over 12-ish minutes until Otterbein found a groove, ripping off a 13-2 run over a seven-minute span in which the Polar Bears scored just one bucket.
   
• Both sides struggled a bit offensively leading into the break, as the Cards mustered just one make of their own across the last four minutes. They led 27-23 heading into the locker room.
   
• ONU crept within a possession early in the second half before a difference-making 14-3 run by Otterbein, which featured Jack Clement rattling of 11-straight points himself to ignite the home crowd.
   
• That double-digit lead was extended to as many as 17 down the stretch as the Cards eased to the W.

 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:

• Clement finished with 19 in front of his alma mater Bellefontaine High School team in attendance, shooting 8 of 12 from the field.
   
• Julian Heckman (10), Cam Evans (9) and Troy Scowden (9) all balanced the attack nicely, with Evans flirting in double-double territory by hauling in a game-high seven rebounds.
   
• Otterbein shot 50% for the game and worked through some extended possession defensively, as ONU grabbed 14 offensive rebounds and ultimately attempted 17 more shots on the night.
   
• Will Miller led the Polar Bears with 15 points. Westerville native Carter Reese, who scored 23 against Otterbein in the first matchup, was limited to just seven this time around on 3-of-12 shooting.

 
BIG WEEKEND:

• The Cardinals now gear up for an important showdown this Saturday afternoon at Heidelberg, which sits third in OAC standings right now and just one game ahead of Otterbein.