By Joe “Big Head” Coopersmith

1/2/2024

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio Dominican Panthers (3-9, 0-5 G-MAC) men’s basketball team began 2024 with the middle game of a three-game conference home stand. Ohio Dominican battled the Walsh Cavaliers (8-3, 2-3 G-MAC) on Tuesday (Jan. 2) evening at Alumni Hall.

Walsh defeated the Panthers 86-50 in the first matchup of these two teams in the next 11 days.

BOX SCORE NOTES

• Luke Ruth (Grove City, Ohio) finished with a Panther high in points on Tuesday, scoring 15 points on six-of-11 shooting. The freshman led in points for the second straight game and the fourth time this season. Along with his scoring, Ruth had three rebounds, two assists and one steal.
• Sean McKitrick (Dayton, Ohio) reached double figures for the ninth straight game after he scored 13 points with four rebounds and two assists.
• Caleb Brooks (Florence, Kentucky) had four points with eight boards on the evening.
• Zac Kimball (Sydney, Australia) led with 13 rebounds, another career-best for the forward.
• Parker Swartz (Grand Rapids, Michigan) returned with eight points off the bench, including two three pointers.
• Ohio Dominican shot 32.6% (19-58) overall in the game, 18.5% (5-27) from deep and 70.0% (7-10) at the free throw line.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• After a scoreless opening three minutes, Walsh jumped out to a 6-2 lead off two early triples. McKitrick scored five quick points while Ruth added a three as ODU tied the game at eight all five minutes into the game.
• The Cavaliers created some distance in the final 15 minutes of the first half, taking a 40-20 lead into halftime.
  • McKitrick scored seven points to lead at the break with Ruth scoring six points. Kimball had nine rebounds at halftime.
• Throughout the second half, Walsh managed to keep the Panthers at bay, winning the game 86-50.

UP NEXT

• In the final game of the three-game home swing, the Panthers will host the Cedarville Yellow Jackets on Thursday (Jan. 4) evening. Tipoff of the men’s game will be at 7:30 PM, following the women’s contest in the first leg of the Great Midwest doubleheader.

COURTESY OHIO DOMINICAN ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS