1/28/2023

WESTERVILLE, Ohio – The Cardinals vaulted back into the win column in a big way Saturday afternoon, pulling away late in both halves to leave little doubt in a 91-61 trouncing of Muskingum.

The Cardinals get back to even (7-7) within Ohio Athletic Conference play as a result, and also improve to 12-7 overall in the process.

THE PLOT:

• Both teams jockeyed for scoring early, with the Cardinals holding a marginal 24-18 cushion until a lopsided run to end the first half…
   
• The Cards erupted to score 23 points over the final six minutes of the frame, including a 12-6 push in the final minutes behind seven straight from Cam Evans. Otterbein would take a 47-30 lead into the break.
   
• Muskingum caught some rhythm early in the second half and chipped the Cardinal lead down to just 10, reflecting 62-52 on the scoreboard with a healthy 11:29 to play.
   
• Otterbein regrouped mightily and held the Muskies scoreless over the next five-plus minutes, expanding the lead back to 19 in the span and never looking back.
   
• Both sides played hard to the final horn, as another 10-0 run by the Cardinals punctuated the day.

STATS ON STATS:

• Five players scored in double figures for Otterbein, led by 18 points and a season-best eight assists from Julian Heckman. Evans had 13 and Troy Scowden flirted with a double-double.
   
• Otterbein shot 55% in both halves compared to a 37% clip on the Muskingum side. The visitors got 14 off the bench from Zaveon Croff.
   
• The Cardinals buried a season-high 15 trifectas from behind the arc.
   
• Both sides played a relatively clean game, combining for just 15 turnovers throughout.
   
• The Cards have now defeated Muskingum for a seventh time in the last eight matchups

COURTESY OTTERBEIN ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS