2/4/2023

WESTERVILLE, Ohio – It was a sweeping Senior Day for the Otterbein men’s basketball program in the Rike Center, topping Baldwin Wallace for the second time this season after a final count of 78-68.

The Cardinals, beating the Yellow Jackets 80-76 earlier this season, thwarted off a strong BW rally early in the second half this time around to close strong and prevail.

Otterbein guarantees itself another winning season as a result, now standing14-7 overall and 8-6 against the OAC. The Cards are now tied with Marietta for fourth in the league standings.

NOTABLE MOMENTS:

• Seniors Dallas Patrick, Bryson Lane, Anthony Holmes and Reid Taylor were recognized during pregame for their contributions to the program.
   
• Otterbein used that emotion to lead most of the first half, opening a double-digit margin (33-23) late in the frame and eventually settling for a 41-33 edge at the break.
   
• BW came out firing to begin the second half, using a quick 10-2 run that forced a deadlock at 43-43. The contest would then see ties at 44, 46 and 49 before the visitors found a groove to take a nine -point lead to the midway point…
   
• The Cardinals began chipping away and wiped the deficit, ripping off a difference making 20-4 scoring run over the ensuing seven minutes to completely flip the script.
   
• BW got back within five points moments later, only to see Cardinal standout Cam Evans convert two critical layups that recreated enough margin.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:

• Evans scored 22 to give himself a combined 50 points against BW this season, shooting 10 of 15 this time around while also corralling eight boards.
   
• Three other Cardinals – Patrick (16), Troy Scowden (13) and Julian Heckman (11) also scored in double figures. Scowden was 6 of 7 from the floor.
   
• Otterbein shot 55% for the game compared to just a 38% clip on the Yellow Jacket side. BW standout Anthony Mazzeo led all scorers with 25 points.
   
• The Cards rested with lopsided scoring edges in the paint (42-20) and off the bench (35-13).

UP NEXT:

• Otterbein hits the road for a pair of challenging matchups next week, heading to nationally-ranked John Carroll on Wednesday and then another weekend clash with Heidelberg.

BOX SCORE

COURTESY OTTERBEIN ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS