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Otterbein University Athletics

Otterbein Cardinals

Reece Huber
57
Winner Otterbein OTT 23-5,13-3 OAC
52
Wis.-Platteville UWP 18-10,9-5 WIAC
Winner
Otterbein OTT
23-5,13-3 OAC
57
Final
52
Wis.-Platteville UWP
18-10,9-5 WIAC
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Otterbein OTT 20 37 57
Wis.-Platteville UWP 31 21 52

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

Call it a comeback! Men's basketball wins NCAA First Round contest

CHICAGO, Ill. – This one's for our 'Ville. 

Erasing an 11-point halftime deficit in their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2002, the No. 24 Otterbein University men's basketball team used an explosive second half to knock off Wisconsin-Platteville, 57-52. 

Reece Huber's 15 points were a game-high, as the senior brought down eight rebounds and recorded three steals. Jarius Jones turned in a gutsy performance, scoring 12 points off the bench. Julian Heckman added another strong evening, dishing out five assists to go along with an Otterbein-high nine rebounds. 

Huber gave the Cardinals the first bucket of the game off a tip in, but the first half was all Pioneers. With 6:27 to play before the half, a Chase Garito jumper cut the UW-Platteville lead to two points. That bucket was immediately answered by the Pioneers, going on a 10-0 run over the next six minutes. UW-Platteville continued to control the tempo, taking a 31-20 lead into halftime. 

Less than six minutes into the second half, UW-Platteville extended the lead to its largest of the night – a 13-point advantage. A veteran Cardinal team that trailed by double digits in the OAC Semifinals was unfazed and slowly chipped away at the deficit. 

A steal from Jones led to him knocking down a pair of free throws on the other end, igniting a 14-0 Otterbein run. Otterbein trimmed the deficit to single digits when Heckman found Troy Scowden, and two possessions later Heckman tallied another assist on a Jones bucket, as the momentum inside the Ratner Center started to shift in favor of the Cardinals. 

Down four with 9:19 remaining, Huber delivered a huge spark for the Cardinals, finishing a tough bucket through contact and drawing the foul. After converting the three-point play, Otterbein pulled within one, 39-38, sending the proud pack of Cardinal fans to the edge of their seats.

Trading baskets over the next few possessions, Garito threw down a dunk to give Otterbein the lead for good, injecting life into all 20 Cardinals. Two trips later, Jones pushed the advantage to two possessions, burying a triple from the top of the arc. Garito finished with eight points and six rebounds in the win. 

Leading 54-46 with 1:07 on the clock, the Cardinals continued to fend off an experienced Pioneer squad making its third consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance. A corner three by the Pioneers cut the gap to 54-51 with 29 seconds remaining. With Otterbein clinging to a three-point lead, Garito was fouled and calmly sent the Cardinals into the Round of 32, draining both free throws for a five-point cushion.

In the locker room, filled with excitement, Heckman had the honor of placing the Otterbein sticker onto the board — the final confirmation that the Cardinals were moving on.

Otterbein will now face host and No. 6 ranked UChicago on Saturday night with a spot in the Sweet 16 on the line. Tip-off is set for 8:10 p.m. EST / 7:10 p.m. CST.
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