Cards Travel to VA for Two-Game Tilt
Written Nov. 19, 2007 by Don Middleton

WESTERVILLE, OHIO―The Otterbein men’s basketball team travels to Virginia Saturday to play at Emory & Henry College, and concludes its trip at Shenandoah University, Monday.

The Cards are coming off a 0-2 performance at the Wooster Tournament (11/16-11/17) after losses to St. Thomas (MN), 73-67, and Farmingdale St. (NY), 98-94.

Otterbein is led this season by Ross Banaszak, a senior guard from Delaware (Hayes), and sophomore guard Ryan Kennedy (Worthington/Thomas Worthington).  Banaszak is averaging 21 points and five assists per game; while Kennedy is shooting a team best 51.3% from the field and leads the team in scoring with 24 ppg.

Game time for Emory & Henry (Nov. 24) is set for a 7 p.m. tip-off and the team will square off against Shenandoah at 7:30 p.m., Nov. 26.

The team’s first home game is Dec. 8 against OAC foe Muskingum.

NABC Names Ousley to All-Great Lakes Team
Written March 30, 2007 by Ed Syguda

WESTERVILLE, OHIO—Center Tyler Ousley, a continuing studies student-athlete from Butler (Clear Fork High School), was named to the NABC Division III All-Great Lakes Region second team, the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) released Wednesday.

Ousley, who was also a fourth team All-America and first team all-region pick by D3hoops.com, averaged 19.7 points and 10.8 rebounds a game this season for the 16-11 Cardinals. The 6-8 center tallied 16 double-doubles for points and rebounds and was named Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) “player of the week” three times.

Among NCAA Division III players this season, Ousley ranked 11th in the nation for blocked shots (2.6 a game), 12th for rebounding, 46th for scoring, and 56th for field-goal percentage (57.0).

The Cardinals, riding a four-game winning streak, advanced into the semifinals with a 52-51 win at fourth-seeded Ohio Northern Wednesday. Center Tyler Ousley, a continuing studies student from Butler (Clear Fork High School), hit a short jumper in the lane as time expired.

“Tyler, once again, took a beating and played like an All-American,” said Otterbein head coach Dick Reynolds. “It was good to win against another caliber program on the road.”

Forward Cory Ratai, a freshman from Johnstown (Johnstown-Monroe), made a steal to set up Otterbein’s final possession with 30 seconds remaining in the game. Following two Otterbein timeouts, the last with 3.3 seconds to go, point guard Ross Banaszak, a junior from Delaware (Rutherford B. Hayes), dribbled across the free-throw line and then dished the ball inside to Ousley for the winning shot.

“Ross got double-teamed and dumped it off to Tyler,” Reynolds said. “Their experience made that win.”

Ousley finished with 19 points, 11 rebounds and five blocked shots. Banaszak collected 13 points, five rebounds and four assists. He made 3 of 4 shots from three-point range.

Guard Adam Wells, a senior from Newark (Hebron Lakewood), scored eight points despite playing with two bruised ribs.

Otterbein and Capital split a pair of games during the regular season, each winning at home. The Crusaders won, 77-59, Dec. 16 in Bexley and Otterbein won, 73-69, in single overtime last Saturday in Westerville.

“Cap will be very difficult as we will, once again, have to combat physical play and hope to shoot the ball well,” Reynolds said. “Adam (Otterbein’s top three-point shooter) is very sore with his bruised ribs.”

Cards Open OAC Tournament at Ohio Northern
Written Feb. 19, 2007 by Ed Syguda

WESTERVILLE, OHIO—The Otterbein men’s basketball team enters the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) Tournament—the winner receiving an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament—on a three-game winning streak.

The Cardinals, seeded fifth, are scheduled to play at fourth-seeded Ohio Northern, 7:30 p.m., Wednesday in Ada in one of four quarterfinal games being played that night. The winner advances to play the winner of the game between top-seeded Capital and eighth-seeded Muskingum.

“This year’s tournament, obviously, could be won by a couple of different teams—whichever teams happen to have a good shooting night,” said Otterbein head coach Dick Reynolds.

Otterbein finished up the regular season Saturday with a thrilling win over OAC regular-season co-champion Capital, 73-69, in single overtime in the Rike Center.

Center Tyler Ousley, a continuing studies student from Butler (Clear Fork High School), turned in another career performance, collecting 23 points, 18 rebounds, seven assists and five blocked shots in the win. Ousley made 6 of 10 shots from the field and 11 of 13 from the free-throw line. The center has posted 15 double-doubles for points and rebounds this season.

Point guard Ross Banaszak, a junior from Delaware (Rutherford B. Hayes), chipped in 16 points, four assists and three steals against Capital.

“The Capital win was good,” Reynolds said. “The win reinforced our thoughts that we can compete versus the top teams in the OAC.”

Otterbein, sporting a 6-2 mark over its last eight games, finished the regular season at 15-10 overall, and 11-7 in the OAC.

The Cardinals lost both games to Ohio Northern this season, 79-70, Jan. 17 in Ada and, 66-63, in single overtime at home Jan. 31. The Polar Bears were ranked 8th and 14th in the nation, respectively, at the time of the wins.

The Cardinals, 5-2 over their last seven games, sit fifth in the OAC at 10-7. The Crusaders hold down the top spot in the conference with a 13-4 record and have already clinched at least a share of the regular-season title as well as the No. 1 seed in the OAC Tournament, which is scheduled to begin Wednesday.

Under 35th-year head coach Dick Reynolds, Otterbein defeated Wilmington, 52-49, Thursday in Wilmington. The squad held Wilmington to 30 percent shooting (18 of 60) from the field, including 1 of 15 from three-point range. The Cardinals converted five free throws down the stretch to break a 47-47 tie with 4:22 to play.

Four starters scored in double digits. Center Tyler Ousley, a continuing studies student from Butler (Clear Fork High School), led the team with 14 points and nine rebounds. Point guard Ross Banaszak, a junior from Delaware (Rutherford B. Hayes), added 12 points while guard Ryan Kennedy, a freshman from Worthington (Thomas Worthington), and guard Adam Wells, a senior from Newark (Hebron Lakewood), tallied 11 points each.

Capital, under 13th-year head coach Damon Goodwin, won its seventh straight, topping Heidelberg, 79-67, Thursday in Bexley. Post Steve Kyser, a junior from Sylvania (Southview), led the Crusaders with 19 points and seven rebounds.

Probable starters for Capital include Kyser (13.0 ppg., 5.2 rpg.); Pat Stolly (6.2 ppg., 2.5 rpg.), a junior point guard from Lima (Central Catholic); Ryan Wood (10.0 ppg., 2.1 rpg.), a sophomore wing from Pickerington (Central); Nate Stahl (14.0 ppg., 4.6 rpg.), a sophomore wing from St. Henry; and Ben Gunn (4.9 ppg., 4.5 rpg.), a junior post from Wauseon.

Probable starters for Otterbein include Banaszak (15.5 ppg., 3.5 rpg.); Brian Pollock (6.8 ppg., 4.0 rpg.), a freshman guard from London; Adam Wells (13.2 ppg., 3.3 rpg.); Kennedy (10.0 ppg., 5.0 rpg.); and Ousley (20.1 ppg., 10.5 rpg.).

Coming into the week, Ousley ranked 13th in rebounding, 14th in blocked shots, 30th in scoring and 57th in field-goal percentage in NCAA Division III. Banaszak ranked 33rd in free-throw percentage and 87th in assists. Wells ranked 73rd in three-point field goals made, 51st in free-throw percentage and 94th in three-point field-goal percentage.

Capital won the season’s first meeting, 77-59, played in Bexley Dec. 16. Ousley led Otterbein with 27 points and 11 rebounds. Stahl tallied 19 points and five rebounds for the Crusaders.

Seven teams, including Otterbein and Baldwin-Wallace, sit within two games of first place in the OAC.

The Cardinals, 12-9 overall, share fifth place with Baldwin-Wallace (13-8) and Wilmington (13-8), each 8-6 and two games behind league co-leaders John Carroll (14-7, 10-4) and Capital (13-7, 10-4).

Otterbein, under 35th-year head coach Dick Reynolds, played to a split decision last week, losing to 14th-ranked Ohio Northern, 66-63, in overtime last Wednesday at home and defeating Mount Union, 78-68, Saturday in Alliance.

Four starters scored in double digits in the win at Mount Union. Point guard Ross Banaszak, a junior from Delaware (Rutherford B. Hayes High School), led the team with 22 points. Guard Ryan Kennedy, a freshman from Worthington (Thomas Worthington), scored 15, and was followed by guard Adam Wells, a senior from Newark (Hebron Lakewood), with 13 points, and guard Brian Pollock, a freshman from London, with 11.

Ohio Northern outscored Otterbein 8-3 in the final 4:38 of regulation and then hit a three with three seconds remaining in overtime to pull out the win. Banaszak and continuing studies center Tyler Ousley, from Butler (Clear Fork), each scored 20 in the game. Ousley pulled down 10 rebounds to post his 12th double-double of the season.

Baldwin-Wallace, under 27th-year head coach Steve Bankson, comes into the game off a 75-68 loss at Wilmington Saturday. All-American forward/center Tory Davis, a senior from Elyria (Open Door Christian), tallied 19 points and 12 rebounds in the game. Point guard Brendan Schuler, a junior from Fairview Park (Fairview), scored 17 and hit all nine of his free-throw attempts.

Probable starters for Baldwin-Wallace include Davis (21.9 ppg., 8.8 rpg.); Schuler (12.6 ppg., 3.7 rpg.); Dennis Santiago (11.5 ppg., 3.4 rpg.), a sophomore wing from Brook Park (Midpark); Tyler Sekerak (6.4 ppg., 3.4 rpg.), a junior wing from Corry, Pa.; and Andrew Bene (6.5 ppg., 5.3 rpg.), a sophomore post from Hinckley (Medina Highland).

Probable starters for Otterbein include Banaszak (15.7 ppg., 3.5 rpg.); Pollock (6.6 ppg., 4.0 rpg.); Adam Wells (12.9 ppg., 3.3 rpg.); Kennedy (10.2 ppg., 5.2 rpg.); and Ousley (20.2 ppg., 10.5 rpg.).

Coming into the week, Ousley ranked 14th in rebounding, 14th in blocked shots, 32nd in scoring and 32nd in field-goal percentage in NCAA Division III. Banaszak ranked 37th in free-throw percentage and 92nd in assists. Wells ranked 80th in three-point field goals made and 95th in three-point field-goal percentage.

Otterbein defeated Baldwin-Wallace, 83-74, in the season’s first meeting played in Berea Jan. 10. All five Otterbein starters, led by 21 from Banaszak, scored in double digits. Banaszak hit five threes in the win. Davis, with 30 points and eight rebounds, led B-W.

Following the Yellow Jackets, Otterbein travels to Heidelberg Saturday for a 3 p.m. tip-off. Baldwin-Wallace hosts Muskingum.

Cards to Host Ohio Northern
Written Jan. 30, 2007 by Ed Syguda

WESTERVILLE, OHIO—Otterbein takes on the Polar Bears of Ohio Northern University, 7:30 p.m., Wednesday in an Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) game.

The Cardinals, 11-8 overall, share fifth place with Baldwin-Wallace and Wilmington, each 7-5 and just one game out of first in the OAC. Ohio Northern, 15-4 overall and ranked 14th by D3hoops.com, sits in a four-way tie for first place with an 8-4 league mark.

Otterbein, under 35th-year head coach Dick Reynolds, kept its title hopes alive with a pair of OAC wins over Marietta, 78-69, at home and Muskingum, 80-79, in New Concord last week.

Four of five starters scored in double digits last Saturday at Muskingum. Point guard Ross Banaszak, a junior from Delaware (Rutherford B. Hayes High School), scored two of his 12 points on a pair of clutch free throws with five seconds to play. Center Tyler Ousley, a continuing studies student from Butler (Clear Fork), scored 22 points along with 10 rebounds. Guard Ryan Kennedy, a freshman from Worthington (Thomas Worthington), scored 22, and guard Adam Wells, a senior from Newark (Hebron Lakewood), chipped in 18.

Ousley, who has 11 double-doubles this season, tallied 26 points and 18 boards (matching his career high) against Marietta. Kennedy and Wells each scored 19 in the game.

Ohio Northern, under 2nd-year head coach Jeff Coleman, defeated Baldwin-Wallace, 83-74, last Saturday in Berea. Baldwin-Wallace, down by 11 points at the half, fought back and held one and two-point leads late in the second period. Tied at 72 with 1:24 to play, Ohio Northern’s Jake Cannan, a sophomore post from Dublin (Coffman), hit a three at the 1:04 mark, and the Polar Bears made all eight of their free throws down the stretch to preserve the win. Cannan led Northern with 24 points. 

Probable starters for Ohio Northern include Cannan (10.7 ppg., 3.7 rpg.); Kurtis Brown (4.3 ppg., 1.9 rpg.), a sophomore guard from Continental; Greg Badenhop (15.3 ppg., 2.9 rpg.), a senior wing from Liberty Center; Ryan Lee (5.9 ppg., 3.2 rpg.), a senior wing from Elida; and Michael Hunter (4.1 ppg., 5.5 rpg.), a senior post from Columbus (Whetstone).

Probable starters for Otterbein include Banaszak (15.2 ppg., 3.5 rpg.); Brian Pollock (6.7 ppg., 4.0 rpg.), a freshman guard from London; Adam Wells (13.1 ppg., 3.2 rpg.); Kennedy (10.2 ppg., 5.3 rpg.); and Ousley (20.8 ppg., 10.9 rpg.).

Coming into the week, Ousley ranked 9th in rebounding, 11th in blocked shots, 26th in scoring and 29th in field-goal percentage in NCAA Division III. Banaszak ranked 17th in free-throw percentage and 94th in assists. Wells ranked 76th in three-point field goals made, 88th in free-throw percentage and 99th in three-point field-goal percentage.

Ohio Northern defeated Otterbein, 79-70, in the season’s first meeting played in Ada Jan. 17. Ousley tallied 23 points and nine rebounds in the game. Guard Kyle Gehle, a junior from Versailles, scored 17 points to pace the Polar Bears.

Pioneers to Visit Rike
Written Jan. 23, 2007 by Ed Syguda

WESTERVILLE-OHIO--Otterbein hosts the Pioneers of Marietta College, 7:30 p.m., Wednesday in an Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) game.

The Cardinals, 9-8 overall, hold down the seventh spot in the OAC with a 5-5 conference record, trailing league co-leaders Heidelberg and John Carroll by just two games. Marietta, 5-12 overall, sits last with a 1-9 OAC mark.

Otterbein, under 35th-year head coach Dick Reynolds, missed a golden opportunity—and a chance to move into a six-way tie for second place—with a 70-68 loss to John Carroll last Saturday in the Rike Center. The Cardinals led by five, 35-30, at the half, and by eight, 63-55, with 4:00 to play 

Center Tyler Ousley, a continuing studies student from Butler (Clear Fork High School), turned in a career performance, missing a triple-double by one blocked shot. Ousley scored 26 points to go over the 1,000-point mark for his career. The center also tied his career high for rebounds, with 18, and set a career high for blocked shots, with nine. Point guard Ross Banaszak, a junior from Delaware (Rutherford B. Hayes), scored 14 points, and guard Ryan Kennedy, a freshman from Worthington (Thomas Worthington), added 11 points.

Marietta, under 15th-year head coach Doug Foote, upset 8th-ranked Ohio Northern, 72-68, last Saturday at home. Guard Isaiah Creasap, a sophomore from Wooster (Northwestern), scored a career-high 34 points, making 11 of 15 shots from the field. Creasap, selected OAC “player of the week” for his performance, hit 7 of 9 three-point attempts in the win. Forward Kyle Reed, a junior from Fairbanks (Northwestern), chipped in 11 points.

Probable starters for Marietta include Creasap (13.9 ppg., 1.1 rpg.); Reed (6.4 ppg., 4.3 rpg.); Ryan Wilkinson (1.9 ppg., 2.2 rpg.), a senior guard from Wilmington (Clinton Massie); Eric Lechlitner (1.0 ppg., 1.9 rpg.), a senior guard from Seven Hills (Normandy); and Matt Rucker (8.6 ppg., 6.4 rpg.), a senior center from Proctorville (Chesapeake).

Probable starters for Otterbein include Banaszak (15.6 ppg., 3.6 rpg.); Brian Pollock (7.1 ppg., 4.2 rpg.), a freshman guard from London; Adam Wells (12.5 ppg., 3.2 rpg.), a senior guard from Newark (Hebron Lakewood); Kennedy (8.9 ppg., 5.3 rpg.); and Ousley (20.5 ppg., 10.6 rpg.).

Coming into the week, Ousley ranked 11th in blocked shots, 13th in rebounding, 32nd in scoring and 54th in field-goal percentage in NCAA Division III. Banaszak ranked 11th in free-throw percentage and 95th in assists. Wells ranked 99th in three-point field goals made.

Otterbein defeated Marietta, 61-55, in the season’s first meeting played in Marietta Dec. 6. Ousley tallied 24 points and 12 rebounds in the game. Forward Matt Phillips, a junior from Williamson, WV (Tug Valley), scored 22 points to pace Marietta.

The Cardinals, 9-7 overall, share fifth place with Baldwin-Wallace and Wilmington, each 5-4 in the OAC. John Carroll (10-6) sits just one game out of first place, sharing the second spot with Ohio Northern and Capital, each 6-3 in league games. 

Otterbein, under 35th-year head coach Dick Reynolds, heads into the game off a 79-70 loss at nationally-ranked Ohio Northern Wednesday in Ada. The Cardinals led by two, 31-29, at the half. The game was tied at 50 with 10:31 to play before the Polar Bears, ranked 8th by D3hoops.com, mounted a 14-5 run to take the lead for good.

Ousley led the Cardinals with 23 points and nine rebounds. Guard Adam Wells, a senior from Newark (Hebron Lakewood), scored 17 points. He hit 5 of 9 from three-point range.

John Carroll, under 15th-year head coach Mike Moran, bounced back from an early second half 16-point deficit to defeat Mount Union, 83-72, Wednesday on the road in Alliance. Mount Union led by nine, 70-61, with 5:38 to play. The Blue Streaks, however, closed out the game with a 22-2 run.

Forward Brandon Mimes, a senior from Euclid, led John Carroll with 25 points and 16 rebounds. Point guard Pete Moran, a senior from Russell Township (West Geauga), chipped in 18 points.

Probable starters for John Carroll include Mimes (21.0 ppg., 10.5 rpg.); Moran (11.4 ppg., 2.7 rpg.); Terry Walsh (13.4 ppg., 5.4 rpg.), a senior forward from Lakewood (Cleveland St. Ignatius); Chris Day (8.0 ppg., 3.6 rpg.), a senior guard from Newbury; and Joe Kimener (0.9 ppg., 1.0 rpg.), a senior forward from Cincinnati (Moeller).

Probable starters for Otterbein include Banaszak (15.7 ppg., 3.6 rpg.); Brian Pollock (7.1 ppg., 4.2 rpg.), a freshman guard from London; Wells (13.1 ppg., 3.3 rpg.); Kennedy (8.7 ppg., 5.4 rpg.), a freshman guard from Worthington (Thomas Worthington); and Ousley (20.1 ppg., 10.1 rpg.).

Coming into the week, Ousley ranked 16th in blocked shots, 23rd in rebounding, 44th in scoring and 62nd in field-goal percentage in NCAA Division III. Banaszak ranked 23rd in free-throw percentage and 80th in assists.

In the season’s first meeting between the two schools, Otterbein jumped out to a 14-1 lead in an 86-76 loss in University Heights Dec. 2. Banaszak, making 15 of 19 free-throw attempts, led the Cardinals with 24 points. Mimes, with 24 points and 13 rebounds, led John Carroll.

The Cardinals, 8-6 overall, share fifth place with John Carroll, each 4-3 in the OAC. Four teams, each 5-2 in league play, sit atop the league standings. Mount Union, 8-6 overall and 3-4 in the OAC, shares the seventh spot with Wilmington.

Otterbein comes into the game off an 83-74 win at Baldwin-Wallace Wednesday in Berea. All five Cardinal starters scored in double digits, led by 21 points from point guard Ross Banaszak, a junior from Delaware (Rutherford B. Hayes High School). Banaszak, who made five three-pointers in the game, hit a three to give Otterbein a 7-6 lead with 14:31 to play in the first half and the Cardinals never looked back, holding the lead for the rest of the game.

Guard Adam Wells, a senior from Newark (Hebron Lakewood), tallied 19 points and seven rebounds. Center Tyler Ousley, a continuing studies student from Butler (Clear Fork), and guard Ryan Kennedy, a freshman from Worthington (Thomas Worthington), chipped in 16 points apiece. Wells and Banaszak played all 40 minutes of the game.

Mount Union, under 15th-year head coach Lee Hood, pulled off an 84-74 victory at Capital Wednesday in Bexley. Trailing the Crusaders, 50-47, with 13:27 to play, the Purple Raiders mounted a 16-0 run over the next five minutes to take the lead for good.

Guard Sam King, a sophomore from Masury (Brookfield), paced the Purple Raider attack, collecting 20 points and six rebounds. Post Stu Anglum, a sophomore from Glenshaw, Pa. (Shaler), contributed 17 points and 10 rebounds.

Probable starters for Mount Union include King (10.6 ppg., 3.0 rpg.); Anglum (16.1 ppg., 8.2 rpg.); Eric Fender (7.1 ppg., 4.1 rpg.), a senior wing from Poland; Nick Sefscik (7.9 ppg., 3.4 rpg.), a freshman guard from Allison Park, Pa. (Shaler); and Chris Crawford (8.8 ppg., 4.4 rpg.), a freshman post from Painesville (Harvey).

Probable starters for Otterbein include Banaszak (16.1 ppg., 3.4 rpg.); Brian Pollock (6.5 ppg., 4.3 rpg.), a freshman guard from London; Wells (12.9 ppg., 3.5 rpg.); Kennedy (8.2 ppg., 5.3 rpg.); and Ousley (20.1 ppg., 10.3 rpg.).

Coming into the week, Ousley ranked 14th in blocked shots, 20th in rebounding, 39th in scoring and 65th in field-goal percentage in NCAA Division III. Banaszak ranked 34th in free-throw percentage and 84th in assists.

Otterbein and Mount Union split their two games last season, each winning at home. Otterbein defeated Mount Union, 73-63, in Westerville while the Raiders won, 75-72, in Alliance.

Ousley, a three-time player of the week selection this season, picked up his eighth double-double of the season last Wednesday against Wilmington.

He collected 28 points, 12 rebounds, five assists and two blocked shots in a 76-67 win over Wilmington Wednesday in Westerville, then followed that performance with 30 points, eight rebounds, three assists and two blocked shots in a 95-77 loss to Heidelberg Saturday at home in the Rike Center.

Cards Take on Heidelberg
Written Jan. 5, 2007 by Jason Miller

WESTERVILLE, OHIO--Otterbein (7-5), rounding out a five-game home stand, takes on Heidelberg College, 7:30 p.m., Saturday in an Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) contest.

The two teams share fourth place in the OAC, each 3-2 in league play. Three teams share first place, each 4-1 in the OAC.

Otterbein, under 35th-year head coach Dick Reynolds, knocked off OAC rival Wilmington last Wednesday, 76-67, in Westerville.

Center Tyler Ousley, a continuing studies student-athlete from Butler (Clear Fork High School), picked up his seven-consecutive double-double, tallying a game-high 28 points and a game-high 12 rebounds. Guard Ryan Kennedy, a freshman from Worthington (Thomas Worthington), scored a career-high 15 points.

Heidelberg (7-5), under fifth-year head coach Duane Sheldon, comes into the game off a 65-63 conference loss to Capital last Wednesday. The Berg have won four of their last five games.

Brian Schmidt, a junior center from Hinckley (Brunswick), and Greg Tyson Jr., a junior guard from Lima, led Heidelberg in the game against Capital. Schmidt notched a team-high 13 points and a team-high 11 rebounds, and Tyson chipped in 10 points and grabbed six rebounds. Chad Szalay, a sophomore guard from Lorain (Clearview), added 11 points.

Probable starters for Heidelberg include Schmidt (13.2 ppg., 7.5 rpg.); Tyson (9.0 ppg., 5.8 rpg.); Andrew Lemmon (10.3 ppg., 6.6 rpg.), a junior guard from Port Clinton; Shawn Shriver (10.0 ppg., 2.9 rpg.), a junior guard from Bellevue (Western Reserve); and Matt Eberle (3.8 ppg., 2.4 rpg.), a junior guard from Grove City (Central Crossing).

Probable starters for Otterbein include Ross Banaszak (15.6 ppg., 3.6 rpg.), a junior guard from Delaware (Rutherford B. Hayes); Brian Pollock (5.8 ppg., 4.1 rpg.), a freshman guard from London; Adam Wells (12.8 ppg., 3.5 rpg.), a senior guard from Newark (Hebron Lakewood); Kennedy (7.5 ppg., 5.2 rpg.); and Ousley (19.7 ppg., 10.7 rpg.).

Heidelberg and Otterbein split the two meetings last season with each team winning at home. The Berg won in Tiffin, 84-78, and the Cardinals won, 96-81, in Westerville.

The two teams share sixth place in the OAC, each 2-2 in league play. Five teams share first place, each 3-1 in the OAC.

Otterbein, under 35th-year head coach Dick Reynolds, played to a split decision in the 27th-annual Otterbein Smokey Ballenger Classic held last Friday and Saturday in the Rike Center. The Cardinals, winners of the last five Classics, defeated Kalamazoo, 83-63, in the opening game, but fell to Maryville (TN), 84-81, in the championship game. Seventeen baskets of food and $687 were collected for Paul’s Pantry, a Westerville area food pantry, and Coaches vs. Cancer.

Center Tyler Ousley, a continuing studies student-athlete from Butler (Clear Fork High School), and guard Adam Wells, a senior from Newark (Lakewood), were named to the all-tournament team.

Ousley picked up two more double-doubles to bring his season total to seven, tallying 38 points and 23 rebounds in the tournament. The post player collected 21 points and 11 rebounds in the championship game despite playing only 21 minutes due to foul trouble.

Wells matched his career high of 23 points, making six three-pointers in the championship game. The guard scored 34 points in the tournament.

Wilmington (7-4), under second-year head coach Scott Reule, comes into the game off a 73-60 nonconference loss at Mount St. Joseph last Saturday. The Quakers have won four of their last five games, including an 85-72 decision over John Carroll at home Dec. 16.

Fred Harrison, a junior guard from Cleveland (East), and Sam Lahmers, a sophomore center from Malta (Morgan), led Wilmington in the game at Mount St. Joseph. Harrison scored 12, and Lahmers added 10. Each pulled down six rebounds.

Probable starters for Wilmington include Harrison (11.3 ppg., 3.3 rpg.); Lahmers (8.5 ppg., 4.1 rpg.); Scott Walters (5.2 ppg., 4.2 rpg.), a junior forward from Mentor (Perry); Zach Broermann (11.5 ppg., 3.9 rpg.), a junior guard from Brookville, Ind. (Franklin County); and Kerry Wilkinson (7.7 ppg., 2.5 rpg.), a sophomore guard from Wilmington (Clinton-Massie).

Probable starters for Otterbein include Ross Banaszak (15.9 ppg., 3.8 rpg.), a junior guard from Delaware (Rutherford B. Hayes); Brian Pollock (5.8 ppg., 3.9 rpg.), a freshman guard from London; Wells (13.2 ppg., 3.6 rpg.); Cory Ratai (6.7 ppg., 5.3 rpg.), a freshman forward from Johnstown (Johnstown-Monroe); and Ousley (18.9 ppg., 10.5 rpg.).

Wilmington took both meetings with Otterbein last season, winning in Westerville, 74-56, and at home, 78-65.

Ousley Named OAC Player of the Week
Written Jan. 2, 2007 by Ed Syguda

WESTERVILLE, OHIO—Center Tyler Ousley, a continuing studies student-athlete from Butler (Clear Fork High School), was named the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) “player of the week” in men’s basketball, the OAC released today.

Ousley, a two-time player of the week selection this season, picked up two more double-doubles to bring his season total to seven, tallying 38 points and 23 rebounds in the Otterbein Smokey Ballenger Classic held last Friday and Saturday in the Rike Center.

He collected 21 points and 11 rebounds in the championship game, an 84-81 loss to Maryville (TN), despite playing only 21 minutes due to foul trouble. Ousley notched 17 points and 12 rebounds in the opening-round 83-63 win over Kalamazoo (MI).

Smokey Ballenger Classic Set for Dec. 29-30
Written Dec. 21, 2006 by Ed Syguda

WESTERVILLE, OHIO—Admission to the 27th-annual Otterbein Smokey Ballenger Classic will be free of charge with a donation of a food or personal product item. Cash donations will also be accepted.

Food collected at the Classic, scheduled for Dec. 29-30, will be donated to Paul’s Pantry, located in Westerville. Cash donations will be contributed to Coaches vs. Cancer.

Opening-round women’s pairings Dec. 29 feature Otterbein and Carnegie Mellon (PA) at 1 p.m., followed by Carthage (WI) and Lynchburg (TN) at 3 p.m. Men’s action gets underway at 6 p.m. when Otterbein takes on Kalamazoo (MI). Maryville (TN) and Hiram follow at 8 p.m.

The consolation and championship games will be played Dec. 30. The consolation games are scheduled for 1 p.m. (women’s) and 3 p.m. (men’s) followed by the championship games at 6 p.m. (women’s) and 8 p.m. (men’s).

Ousley Named OAC Player of the Week
Written Dec. 11, 2006 by Ed Syguda

WESTERVILLE, OHIO—Center Tyler Ousley, a continuing studies student-athlete from Butler (Clear Fork High School), was named the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) “player of the week” in men’s basketball, the OAC released today.

Ousley averaged a double-double over wins against OAC opponents Marietta and Muskingum last week.

He collected 24 points, 12 rebounds and seven blocked shots in a 61-55 victory at Marietta Wednesday, then followed that performance with 30 points, 15 rebounds and five blocked shots in a 95-84 win over Muskingum Saturday at home in the Rike Center. Ousley made 34 of 39 free-throw attempts over the two games.

WESTERVILLE, OHIO--Otterbein, playing its first six games of the season on the road, returns to the friendly confines of the Rike Center for its home opener, taking on the Fighting Muskies of Muskingum College, 7:30 p.m., Saturday in an Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) matchup.

The game has taken on added significance as Otterbein head coach Dick Reynolds goes after career win 600. Reynolds, compiling a 599-332 record since taking over the head coaching duties at his alma mater in 1972, sits fifth all-time on the NCAA Division III career wins list. Among all NCAA divisions, Reynolds ranks in the top 50 all-time, sharing 46th place.

The Cardinals, 4-2 overall and 1-1 in the OAC, come into the game off a 61-55 win at Marietta Wednesday. Center Tyler Ousley, a continuing studies student from Butler (Clear Fork), tallied 24 points and 12 rebounds, and tied his career high with seven blocked shots. Adam Wells, a senior guard from Newark (Hebron Lakewood), chipped in 11 points.

Otterbein opened OAC play with an 86-76 loss at John Carroll last Saturday in University Heights. The Cardinals began the game with a 14-1 run and held the lead until the 8:35 mark of the second half. Point guard Ross Banaszak, a junior from Delaware (Rutherford B. Hayes), led the Cards with 24 points. He made 15 of 19 free-throw attempts. Ousley collected 19 points and eight rebounds, and Wells added 17 points.

Muskingum, under second-year head coach Geno Ford, won its first four games of the season, but has since suffered back-to-back OAC losses to Mount Union, 71-64, last Saturday in Alliance and to John Carroll, 81-74, at home Wednesday in New Concord.

Sophomore guard Trevor Scott, from Loudonville, led a group of four Muskies scoring in double figures against the Blue Streaks. Scott scored 20 and was followed by Brandon Todd, a junior guard from Cambridge, with 17, Pat Byrne, a freshman guard from Cambridge, 13, and Andy Glass, a sophomore forward from Medina, 10. Glass led his teammates with 10 rebounds.

Probable starters for Muskingum include Todd (15.8 ppg., 3.3 rpg.); Scott (19.3 ppg., 3.7 rpg.); Jason Dicken (3.7 ppg., 3.8 rpg.), a senior forward from Logan; Jeremy Ady (8.3 ppg., 4.5 rpg.), a junior guard from Dover; and Byrne (13.7 ppg., 5.2 rpg.).

Probable starters for Otterbein include Banaszak (18.3 ppg., 4.3 rpg.); Brian Pollock (3.7 ppg., 4.2 rpg.), a freshman guard from London; Wells (10.8 ppg., 3.8 rpg.); Cory Ratai (7.3 ppg., 6.2 rpg.), a freshman forward from Johnstown (Johnstown-Monroe); and Ousley (15.8 ppg., 9.0 rpg.).

Otterbein and Muskingum split their two games during the regular season, each winning at home last season. Muskingum took the first meeting, 64-59, and Otterbein won the second, 71-65.

The two teams met again in the quarterfinals of the OAC Tournament with Muskingum, seeded third, winning, 81-62, at home. Ousley led the Cardinals with 24 points and 11 rebounds. Muskingum was led by Todd and Cole Pittis, who graduated, each with 23 points and 10 rebounds.

Following Muskingum, Otterbein travels across town to face rival Capital Dec. 16.

Only four coaches in NCAA Division III have reached 600.

The Cardinals, 3-2 overall, are scheduled to play at Marietta, 7:30 p.m., Wednesday in an Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) matchup. If the Cardinals win, Reynolds will have an opportunity to reach win 600 at home against Muskingum, 7:30 p.m., Saturday.

“Coach Reynolds is a teacher first and a coach second,” said Robert M. Gatti, Otterbein vice president for student affairs. “Every practice and game he is teaching his players about life. He teaches teamwork, communication skills, goal setting and dealing with adversity. I’ve seen his teams up by 20 points with one minute to go, and he is still on the floor encouraging his players to do their best.

“One value that is extremely important to Coach is family,” Gatti continued. “I’ve never been to an Otterbein basketball game that Dick’s loving wife, Ellen, wasn’t in the stands. What a great role model for his players.”

Reynolds, in his 35th season, has compiled a 598-332 record since taking over the head coaching duties at his alma mater in 1972. He notched career win 500 on Feb. 10, 2001, an 88-79 overtime win against John Carroll at home.

The following season, Reynolds reached the pinnacle of his career, guiding the Cardinals to their first national championship in 2002. Otterbein finished at 30-3, winning the OAC regular-season title and post-season tournament — that after being picked to finish sixth in the conference in a preseason coaches’ poll.

OAC Names Banaszak Player of the Week
Written Dec. 4, 2006 by Ed Syguda

AUSTINTOWN, OHIO—Point guard Ross Banaszak, a junior from Delaware (Rutherford B. Hayes High School), was named the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) “player of the week” in men’s basketball, the OAC released today.

Banaszak averaged 23.7 points, 4.7 rebounds and 4.7 assists over three games last week.

He matched his career high with 26 points and hit a three-pointer at the buzzer to give Otterbein a 58-55 win at Maryville last Wednesday in Maryville, Tenn. The point guard led Otterbein in scoring in all three games, including 21 points in a 78-73 win at Fisk last Thursday in Nashville, Tenn., and 24 points in an 86-77 loss at John Carroll Saturday in University Heights.

On the week, Banaszak shot 46.3 percent (19 of 41) from the field and 80.7 percent (25 of 31) from the free-throw line. He made 8 of 18 three-point attempts.

Cards Open OAC Play with Two on the Road
Written Dec. 1, 2006 by Ed Syguda

WESTERVILLE, OHIO—Otterbein opens Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) play Saturday, traveling to John Carroll for a 3 p.m. tip-off.

The Cardinals, 3-1 overall, head into the weekend off a pair of road wins at Maryville, 58-55, Wednesday in Maryville, Tenn. and at Fisk, 78-73, Thursday in Nashville, Tenn.

Despite the 3-1 start, 35th-year head coach Dick Reynolds is a bit uneasy about the road ahead, which includes a stop at Marietta next Wednesday before the Cardinals return for their home opener Dec. 9 against Muskingum.

“We're not shooting the ball very well right now,” said Reynolds, who is two wins shy of career-win 600. Going up to John Carroll and then to Marietta—it’s not very encouraging. We'll have to wait and see. At least we’re used to playing on the road.”

Reynolds, however, has been pleased with the progress made by members of the freshman class and the play of point guard Ross Banaszak, a junior from Delware (Rutherford B. Hayes High School).

“The freshmen are contributing,” Reynolds said. “They're competing, inconsistent, but they're competing. Ross Banaszak has been the lead and playing well. We just, overall, haven't shot the ball well.”

Banaszak, averaging 23.7 points over the last three games, led a group of five scoring in double digits at Fisk. The point guard tallied 21 and was followed by Adam Wells, a senior guard from Newark (Hebron Lakewood), and Cory Ratai, a freshman forward from Johnstown (Johnstown-Monroe), each with 13; and Ryan Kennedy, a freshman guard from Worthington (Thomas Worthington), and Tyler Ousley, a continuing studies center from Butler (Clear Fork), each scoring 12.

“With a roster of predominately freshmen,” Reynolds said, “a lot of new players could play major roles. The questions to answer, though, are what will they be able to contribute, how soon, and how effectively.”

Thirteen newcomers, including 10 freshmen, join five returning lettermen to make up the 2006-07 roster.

“I don’t know what’s going to happen,” Reynolds continued. “It's one of those years that's been fun in the preseason. We've seen some people mature a little bit, but the question remains as to whether we can compete in the conference and at the Division III level with the number of underclassmen that are going to be on the floor.”

Regardless, Reynolds will be counting on returning starters, center Tyler Ousley, point guard Ross Banaszak, and guard Adam Wells to share leadership roles over the course of the season.

Ousley, a continuing studies student, led the OAC in rebounding (10.6 per game) and blocked shots (3.1 per game), and finished seventh in scoring (15.2 per game) on his way to first team All-OAC honors last season. Ousley, who is using his last year of eligibility, graduated in 2006 and is pursuing a second undergraduate degree in business administration.

“Tyler should be one of the better post players in our conference,” Reynolds said. “His versatility at both ends of the floor makes him a possible match-up problem for opponents.”

Banaszak, a junior, averaged 14.9 points, 3.8 assists and 1.9 steals while playing a league-leading 34.4 minutes a game last season. The point guard, an honorable mention All-OAC pick, ranked among the conference leaders in free-throw shooting (.877) and three-point shooting (.422).

“Ross returns as one of the better guards in the conference,” Reynolds said. “He led the OAC in minutes played last season, and will be a workhorse for us again this year. He is an excellent defender, strong and quick, and shoots very good percentages from the free-throw line as well as the three-point line.”

Wells, a senior, also ranked among the OAC three-point leaders last year, shooting .393 from beyond the arc while averaging 2.2 made a game.

“At times last year, Adam proved to be one of the better three-point shooters in the conference,” Reynolds said. “He has worked hard in the off season, and will be expected to consistently knock down shots from the perimeter for us this season.”

Senior center Greg Cooper (1.0 ppg., 1.7 rpg.) and sophomore guard Dan Scheaf (2.6 ppg., 1.0 rpg.) round out the list of five returning lettermen. Copper missed 11 games last season due to an injury he suffered against Wilmington Dec. 7.  Scheaf played in 23 games as a freshman a year ago.

Freshmen expected to contribute early, according to Reynolds, include Cory Ratai, a forward from Johnstown (Johnstown-Monroe High School), Ryan Kennedy, a guard from Worthington (Thomas Worthington), Brian Pollock, a guard from London, and Josh Mason, a guard/forward from Westerville (Big Walnut).

Reynolds, who is entering his 35th year as head coach at his alma mater, closes in on another career milestone this season, win No. 600. The all-time OAC wins leader has compiled a record of 595-330 and ranks fifth, all-time, among coaches in NCAA Division III.

“I'm 13 wins away from .500 this year—that’s the number I'm worried about,” Reynolds said when asked about achieving career-win 600. “I didn't make it last year (.500 record). That 13th win is hard to get. 

“Numbers are numbers and it has no impact on our season,” Reynolds continued. “If anything, winning 600 games shows longevity and shows that there have been a lot of good kids come through this program. I don't mean to downplay it, but it's something I'm supposed to do.”

Scott Davis Named Assistant Coach
Written June 30, 2006 by Ed Syguda

WESTERVILLE, OHIO--Otterbein announced today the appointment of Scott Davis as assistant men’s basketball coach.

Davis, 33, brings nine years of basketball coaching experience to his alma mater.

“We are pleased to have Scott with us,” said director of athletics and head men’s basketball coach Dick Reynolds. “He brings us the experience of having been an assistant and a successful head coach at the high school level. Scott knows our philosophies and system.”

Davis, a 1999 graduate of Otterbein College, comes to Otterbein from Jonathan Alder High School in Plain City, Ohio. He taught social studies and served as varsity boy’s basketball coach for two years (2004-2006). Davis taught social studies and coached basketball for four years at Delaware Hayes High School in Delaware, Ohio, coaching the junior varsity boy’s team while assisting on the varsity level  (2002-04), and coaching the freshman boy’s team (2000-02).

Davis also served as a graduate assistant under Reynolds at Otterbein during the 1999-2000 season.

“I never imagined I would have the opportunity to coach here,” said Davis about his new full-time position. “Otterbein has always been special to me. It feels kind of like home.”

Davis, a native of Pickerington, Ohio, earned three varsity letters in basketball at Otterbein where he received his bachelor’s degree in history. A two-time All-Ohio Athletic Conference performer, Davis captained and led the team in scoring his junior and senior seasons. He earned special mention all-state honors his senior year at Pickerington.

Ousley Named Most Valuable Player
Written May 18, 2006 by Craig Coleman

The Otterbein men’s basketball team handed out its team awards Sunday with two players recognized for individual and team accomplishments, and nine players overall receiving letters.

The Cardinals closed the season 12-14, 8-10 in the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) and advanced into the OAC Tournament where it fell to Muskingum in the first round. 

Despite finishing below .500 for the first time in eight seasons, the Cardinals fought competitively against some tough circumstances. With a relatively young and inexperienced team, Otterbein still swept the season series against Capital, won the “O” Club Classic, and pulled off an upset win over Muskingum during the regular season.

With the emergence of senior center Tyler Ousley as the leading rebounder and shot-blocker in the OAC, and the continued improvement of junior guard Adam Wells, sophomores Ross Banaszak, Eric Murphy, and Tommy Young, the Cardinals look forward to a promising future.

Nationally, the Cardinals ranked 21st in free-throw shooting percentage at 74.1 percent (377-for-509) and 42nd in blocked shots (4.0 per game) in NCAA Division III. Within the conference, Banazak and Ousley earned All-OAC honors. Banaszak led the OAC in minutes played, averaging 34.4 minutes a game, and ranked 5th in assists, 4th in steals and 9th in scoring.

A list of special award winners follows:

Senior center Tyler Ousley, from Butler (Clear Fork High School), was named the team’s most valuable player.

Ousley, after missing most of his junior year because of a foot injury, turned in a dominating performance this season averaging 15.2 points, 10.6 rebounds and 3.1 blocked shots a game. The 6-7 center was named to the All-OAC first team after leading the league in rebounding, blocked shots and ranking seventh in scoring.

Nationally, Ousley ranked seventh in blocked shots and 14th in rebounding. He turned in 17 double-doubles over the course of the season, including a 34 point, 18 rebound performance against John Carroll Feb. 11 at home. Both numbers marked career highs.

Junior guard Adam Wells, from Newark (Hebron Lakewood), was named the team’s most improved player.

Wells made 39 percent (57-for-145) of his three-pointers and led the team in three-point field goals made (57). The junior ranked fourth on the team in scoring (10.6 ppg), averaged 2.7 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and reached double-figures in scoring 15 times in 26 games.

Wells posted career highs this season of 22 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists.

Nine Otterbein players were awarded letters at the ceremony. The complete list follows:

Three-year letterwinners: Ousley.

Two-year letterwinners: Wells; Banaszak, from Delaware (Rutherford B. Hayes); Murphy, from Columbus (Westerville South); Young, from Worthington (Thomas Worthington); and junior center Greg Cooper, from Wooster. 

First-year letterwinners: Sophomore guard Scott Cores, from Coshocton; sophomore guard Will Parker, from Middleburg Heights (Midpark); and freshman guard Dan Scheaf, from Worthington (Kilbourne).

Participation Awards: Freshman guard Brett Henderson, from Westlake; and freshman guard Nicholas Furr, from Johnstown (Johnstown-Monroe).

Ousley, Banaszak Named All-OAC
Written by Ed Syguda 03/01/06

Center Tyler Ousley and point guard Ross Banaszak earned All-Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) honors in men’s basketball, the OAC released today.

Ousley, a senior from Butler (Clear Fork High School), was named to the first team. Banaszak, a sophomore from Delaware (Rutherford B. Hayes), was selected to the honorable mention squad.

Ousley, after missing most of his junior year because of a foot injury, turned in a dominating performance this season, averaging 15.2 points, 10.6 rebounds and 3.1 blocked shots a game. The 6-7 center leads the OAC in rebounding and blocked shots and sits seventh in scoring this season.

Nationally, Ousley ranks 14th in rebounding and 7th in blocked shots in NCAA Division III. He turned in 17 double-doubles over the course of the season, including a 34 point, 18 rebound performance against John Carroll Feb. 11 at home. Both numbers marked career highs.

Banaszak, the workhorse of the Otterbein team, averaged 14.9 points, 3.8 assists and 1.9 steals a game this season. The 6-0 point guard leads the OAC in minutes played, averaging 34.4 minutes a game, and sits 5th in assists, 4th in steals and 9th in scoring.

The sophomore guard ranks 23rd in NCAA Division III in free-throw percentage (87.7), making 71 of 81 attempts. Banaszak scored in double digits in 19 of 25 games, including a career-high 26 points against Trinity (TX) in the season opener played Nov. 25 at Southwestern (TX) University.

Cards Season Ends at Muskingum
Written by Craig Coleman 02/23/06

The Otterbein men’s basketball team season ended last night as it fell, 81-62, to Muskingum in the quarterfinals of the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) Tournament.

Senior center Tyler Ousley led the Cardinals with 24 points and 11 rebounds, his 16th double-double of the season. Sophomore guards Eric Murphy and Ross Banaszak contributed 13 and 12 points apiece.

The Muskies were led by Cole Pittis and Brandon Todd who each scored 23 points and pulled down 10 rebounds. With the win, Muskingum improves to 17-8 and advances to the OAC Tournament Semifinals for the second consecutive year.

Otterbein finishes its season 12-14.

The Cardinals started strong and held the lead for much of the first half, but trailed at the break by four, 40-36. Otterbein twice established four point leads in the 13th and 11th minutes, but each time Muskingum’s Zach Ross answered with a jumper.

In fact, Muskingum answered most of Otterbein’s runs by shooting 52 percent from the field, including 8 of 21 three-pointers. The Cardinals shot 42 percent but went only 4-for-23 on its own three-pointers, while junior guard Adam Wells, who had scored in double-figures in seven consecutive games, was held scoreless.

Otterbein trailed by just three, 48-45, with 13:44 left in the game when Muskingum nailed three consecutive three-pointers sandwiched between a jumper from Banaszak. The Cardinals never recovered from the run.

Ousley went 9 of 12 from the field and sank all his free throws, but in the end, the Muskies depth, shooting, and rebounding were too much to overcome. Muskingum turned the ball over just seven times and dominated the boards, 39-26.

Despite the loss, the Cardinals can look back on the season and know that they put their best foot forward against some tough circumstances. With a relatively young and inexperienced team, Otterbein still swept the season series against Capital, won the “O” Club Classic, and pulled off an upset win over Muskingum during the regular season.

The winner of Wednesday’s game will advance to play the winner of first-seed Baldwin-Wallace (21-4, 15-3) and eighth-seed Mount Union (7-18, 6-12).

The Cardinals, under 34th-year head coach Dick Reynolds, finished the regular season 12-13, 8-10 in the OAC after falling to Mount Union, 75-72, on the road Saturday. Otterbein trailed by as many as 10 points in the second half but tied it on a 3-pointer from sophomore point guard Ross Banaszak with 1:02 left, but it wasn’t enough for the victory.

Junior guard Adam Wells nailed 6-of-7 three-pointers and led the Cardinals with 21 points. Banaszak, 19 points, and senior center Tyler Ousley, 18 points, both scored in double-figures.

Muskingum finished the regular season 16-8, and tied for third with Wilmington at 12-6 in the OAC. The Muskies earned the third seed by sweeping the Quakers in both games this season. Under first-year head coach Geno Ford, Muskingum comes into the game winners of four of its final six games, including a 113-73 drubbing of Heidelberg last Saturday.

Senior guard Zach Ross led the Muskies with a game-high 30 points, while freshman guard Brandon Todd, who ranks second in the OAC in scoring (17.7 ppg) and first in assists (6.0 apg), scored 17 points and dished out five assists.

Offensively, Muskingum averages 76.5 points and allows 70.9 points per game. Otterbein averages 73.8 points per game and allows 73.9.

Banaszak leads the Cardinals in scoring (15.0 ppg), while Ousley leads the team and the conference in rebounding (10.6 rpg) and blocked shots (3.2 bpg).

Otterbein and Muskingum have met 13 times in the OAC Tournament with Otterbein holding a 10-3 advantage. Reynolds, who has 595 career victories, is 50-25 all-time in the OAC Tournament.

The Cardinals and Muskies split the season series, with each team winning on its home court.

Ousley Named OAC Player of the Week
Written by Ed Syguda 02/13/06

Center Tyler Ousley, a senior from Butler (Clear Fork High School), was named the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) player of the week in men’s basketball, the OAC released today.

Ousley, who leads the Cardinals in scoring and rebounding, averaged 25.5 points and 13.5 rebounds in home wins over Heidelberg, 96-81, and John Carroll, 78-56, last week. The post player dominated both ends of the floor against John Carroll Saturday, scoring a career-high 34 points and pulling down a career-high 18 rebounds, 14 of them defensive. He also blocked seven shots—matching his career high—against the Blue Streaks.

With the pair of wins, Otterbein improved to 12-11 overall and moved into a share of fifth place with John Carroll, each 8-8 in the OAC. The Cardinals have won seven of their last nine games.

Cards Back Over .500 With Win
Written by Craig Coleman 02/12/06

For the first time since they began the season 2-1, the Cardinals improved to a game over .500 with a 78-56 victory over John Carroll Saturday at the Rike Center.

Senior center Tyler Ousley set career highs in points (34) and rebounds (18) and tied his career high with 7 blocked shots to lead the Cardinals. Sophomore guard Eric Murphy also set career highs for points (17) and rebounds (8) to go with a game-high 5 assists.

Dick Reynolds, in his 34th season as head coach at Otterbein, said he has been pleased with the performance of the team the last couple of games.

“It’s nice to be above .500,” Reynolds said. “I think if we could have had some more consistent performances we might have a better record, but we have two big games left and right now we’re fighting for some tournament position and fighting to extend our season.”

Ousley got off to a great start by scoring Otterbein’s first 10 points and 15 of its first 21. He finished the half with 23 points on 7-of-10 shooting, including 9 of 10 from the free throw line.

As has been the story many times this season, when Ousley takes control of the game inside, the Cardinals become a very difficult team to play against.

“Tyler is his own man from the standpoint of his mental frame of mind,” Reynolds said. “And quite frankly, how the officials officiate him is very important. If they handcuff him it hurts him. If the other team out-physicals him, it hurts him. But when he’s allowed to play he’s as good as there is around.”

Also in the fist half, Murphy and junior guard Adam Wells knocked down a pair of three-pointers.

Up by three, 30-27, with 5:53 left in the first half Wells nailed back-to-back three-point shots and sophomore guard Tommy Young hit two driving layups to give the Cardinals a comfortable nine point margin at the break.

Otterbein continued to increase its lead in the second half thanks to some hot shooting and Ousley’s shot-blocking presence on defense. Sophomore guard Ross Banaszak hit a three-pointer with 8:34 left to make it 63-43 and the Cardinals never looked back. 

John Carroll, minus a couple regular starters, was led by senior guards Justin Ragor and Demetrius Travis with 23 and 18 points apiece.

Otterbein shot 54 percent for the game compared to John Carroll's 38 percent and held the edge in rebounding, 41-27, while dishing out 18 assists.

“I’m excited to the fact that the players have raised the bar,” said Reynolds about his team. “They have moved their performance level up to where they know they should be competing. That’s what we try to do over here. If the team does this one game that means they have the capability to keep doing it.”

Otterbein improves to 12-11, and is in a fifth place tie with John Carroll at 8-8 in the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC). John Carroll is 12-11 overall.

Otterbein goes back on the road to take on Wilmington, 7:30 p.m., Wednesday.

Cards Shoot Their Way Past the Berg
Written by Craig Coleman 02/09/06

The Otterbein men's basketball team beat Heidelberg, 96-81, Wednesday at the Rike Center.

Sophomore guard Tommy Young scored a career-high 26 points and junior guard Adam Wells knocked down 18 to lead the Cardinals. Senior center Tyler Ousley added 17 points, 9 boards, and three blocked shots, while sophomore guards Eric Murphy and Ross Banaszak contributed 15 and 10 points apiece.

In a game similar to the first one played between Otterbein and Heidelberg, Otterbein jumped out to a 16 point first half lead, led by 8 at the half, but this time withstood any Heidelberg comeback attempts. The Cardinals shot 63 percent in the first half, 50 percent in the second, and went 25 of 28 from the free throw line.

With 5:21 left, Banaszak hit a driving layup over two defenders to put Otterbein up 13, 79-66. The Cardinals went without a field goal for the remaining five minutes, but knocked down 17 of 18 free throws to seal the game, including their final 11.

“I think the biggest thing in the game was the balanced scoring of the five people who started the game,” said 34th year head coach Dick Reynolds. “And we got some good contributions from the bench. (Greg) Cooper gave us some good minutes and had 7 rebounds, and that was important for us.”

Coming off the bench, junior center Greg Cooper contributed 7 boards and has combined for 17 rebounds in the last three games.

Up by just three, 14-11, five minutes into the game Otterbein went on an 18-5 run to open up a 16 point lead. The Berg never got within eight the rest of the way as the Cardinals continued to shoot well.

Otterbein, which has won 6 of 8, has steadily seen improvement from its players, including the play of the bench. Despite losing key starters throughout the season, and opponents keying on Ousley or forcing him into foul trouble, the team has stepped up and kept Otterbein competitive.

Five different players have broken or matched career-highs in the past two weeks, including Young’s 26 yesterday, Wells 22 last Saturday, Murphy with 16 in the upset win over Muskingum, freshman guard Dan Scheaf with 8 against Muskingum, and Cooper with 7 boards against Marietta and Heidelberg.

“I think we’ve made some progress mentally,” Reynolds said. “We still have mental lapses sometimes, but we are recognizing some things on the floor a little better than we were before.”

The Cardinals held the edge in rebounding, 38-28, and limited the Berg to just 4 of 23 three-pointers.

Otterbein improves to 11-11, sixth in the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) at 7-8, while Heidelberg falls to 8-14, 4-11 in the OAC.

Otterbein hosts John Carroll, 7:30 p.m., Saturday in the Rike Center.

Cards Take on Heidelberg
Written by Craig Coleman 02/08/06

Otterbein hosts the Heidelberg Student Princes in today’s Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) game. The Cardinals, under 34th-year head coach Dick Reynolds, enter the contest 10-11, sixth in the OAC at 6-8 after falling to league leader Baldwin-Wallace, 96-76, Saturday in Berea.

Junior guard Adam Wells, who leads Otterbein with 42 made three-pointers, connected on 6 of 10 three-point attempts and scored a career-high 22 points. Senior center Tyler Ousley fell two rebounds shy of his 12th-straight double-double but still managed 15 points, 8 boards, and a game-high 4 blocks. Sophomore guards Tommy Young and Eric Murphy contributed 12 and 11 points apiece.

The Cardinals hung with the seventh-ranked Yellow Jackets for most of the first half. Otterbein was down eight with 10:23 left but managed to trim the B-W lead to three, 35-32, with 4:34 left in the half. B-W outscored Otterbein 19-8 the rest of the way and held a commanding 14 point lead at the break. Wells led the way with 19 points and 5 three-pointers.

During the second half Otterbein trimmed the lead to 10 with 16:38 remaining, but a 19-4 B-W run was too much to overcome. The Yellow Jackets shot 53 percent for the game and outrebounded the Cardinals 46-33.

Heidelberg beat Otterbein in the first game, 84-78, Jan. 4 in Tiffin. Five Cardinals scored in double-figures led by former player Kevin King with 22 points, Ousley 16, Wells 13, Young 10, and sophomore point guard Ross Banaszak with 10. Otterbein opened up a 16 point first half lead, eight at the half, and 12 in the second half but couldn’t put Heidelberg away. Sophomore guard Andrew Lemmon led the Berg with 21 points.

Heidelberg, under 4th-year head coach Duane Sheldon, enters the contest 8-13, 4-10 in the OAC after winning on the road at Marietta, 83-80, Saturday. Heidelberg was led by sophomore forward Brian Schmidt who shot 11-for-14, scored 26 points and recorded a double-double with 11 rebounds. Sophomore guard Greg Tyson chipped in 16 points, freshman guard Chad Szalay 12, and Lemmon 10.

Offensively, Heidelberg ranks third in the OAC with 82.3 points per game, shoots 49 percent, and allows 82.3 points. Sophomore guard Shawn Shriver leads the Berg in scoring (13.7 ppg) and made three-pointers (48), while Lemmon leads the team in 3-point shooting proficiency (.455), fifth in OAC. Tyson averages 12.0 points, leads the team in assists (2.9 apg), and junior forward Ron Higgins leads the team in rebounding (7.0 rpg).

As a team, Otterbein averages 73.0 points per game and allows 74.2 points. Banaszak continues to lead the Cardinals in scoring (15.5 ppg), 3-point shooting proficiency (.408), assists (4.0 apg) and steals (2.2 spg). Ousley leads the OAC in rebounding (10.4 rpg) and  blocks (3.1 per game) to go with 14.1 points. Young leads the team in field goal percentage (.556) and contributes 9.5 points and 4.9 boards, while Wells has increased his season scoring average to 10.0 points per game.

Otterbein has won six straight home games against Heidleberg and is 77-59 all-time in the season series.

Probable Heidelberg starters include Tyson (12.0 ppg, 2.9 apg), Shriver (13.7 ppg, 2.3 apg), Szalay (9.1 ppg, 1.9 apg), Lemmon (9.7 ppg, 4.7 rpg), and Schmidt (11.4 ppg, 5.4 rpg).

Probable Otterbein starters include Ousley (14.1 ppg, 10.4 rpg), Banaszak (15.5 ppg, 4.0 apg), Young (9.5 ppg, 4.9 rpg), Wells (10.0 ppg, 2.8 rpg), and Murphy (5.4 ppg, 2.3 rpg).

Cards Get Back to .500 With Win
Written by Craig Coleman 02/02/06

The Otterbein men's basketball team beat Marietta, 78-68, Wednesday at The Rike Center.

Sophomore guard Tommy Young went 6-for-10 and scored 17 points to lead the Cardinals. Sophomore point guard Ross Banazak and junior guard Adam Wells each contributed 15 points, while senior center Tyler Ousley scored 11 and registered his 11th straight double-double with 10 boards. Wells also finished with a career-high 7 assists.

Marietta junior Craig Stewart led with a game-high 20 points, including six 3-pointers. Sophomore Matt Phillips chipped in 14 points and 10 rebounds for a double-double.

Otterbein held an eight point lead, 52-44, with 14:26 to play when Marietta scored 12 unanswered points. Stewart, who leads the OAC in three-point field goals, nailed three during the run.

The Cardinals responded by scoring 13 of the next 15 points. Ousley broke a 58-58 tie on a layup, and after freshman guard Dan Scheaf nailed a jumper, Wells hit a three to put the Cardinals up seven with 6:23 to play.

The Pioneers crept within three late, but a layup from Young, two free throws, a steal, and layup from Banaszak sealed the game.

Otterbein shot 63 percent in the first half, 53 percent for the game, and outrebounded the Marietta 40-31. Junior center Greg Cooper, coming off the bench, contributed a career-best 7 rebounds.

Otterbein improves to 10-10, 6-7 in the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC), while Marietta falls to 4-16, 1-12 in the OAC.

Otterbein takes on seventh-ranked and league leader Baldwin-Wallace, 3 p.m., Saturday in Berea.

Cards Go for .500 Record Tonight
Written by Craig Coleman 02/01/06

Otterbein hosts the Marietta Pioneers in today’s Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) game. The Cardinals, under 34th-year head coach Dick Reynolds, enter the contest 9-10, sixth in the OAC at 5-7 after knocking off Capital, 64-59, last Saturday.

Senior center Tyler Ousley scored 18 and grabbed a career-high 16 rebounds and junior guard Adam Wells knocked down 5 threes to lead the Cardinals.

With Otterbein down one, 59-58, sophomore guard Eric Murphy found Ousley underneath who finished a three-point play with 52 seconds left. Capital missed three consecutive 3-pointers down the stretch and Murphy and Ousley made 3 of 4 free throws to seal the game.

The Cardinals defeated the Pioneers in the first game, 78-65, Jan. 18 in Marietta. Wells led the Cardinals with 18 points, while Ousley blocked a career-high 7 shots to go with 16 points and 12 boards. Sophomore guard Tommy Young had 17 points and Murphy chipped in 14.

Marietta, under 14th-year head coach Doug Foote, enters the contest 4-15, 1-11 in the OAC after falling to league leader Baldwin-Wallace, 93-66, at home Saturday. The Pioneers pulled within five points, 50-45, with 14:33 to play but allowed the Yellow-Jackets to pull away down the stretch. Freshman guard Steve Luckhardt went 8-for-16 and scored a team-high 19 points. Junior guard Craig Stewart connected on four three-pointers to finish with 14 points, while junior guard Chas Sponseller added 11.

Offensively, Marietta ranks second in the OAC with 86.7 points per game and run what is termed a “Fun and Gun” offense. The offense will shoot every 12 seconds and incorporate a hockey-type substitution pattern. Defensively, the Pioneers allow 101.5 points. Stewart leads the league in 3-point field goals made (78) and leads the Pioneers in scoring (15.7 ppg). Luckhardt leads the team in assists (3.63) and steals (1.74 spg), and junior center Matthew Rucker leads in rebounding (5.2 rpg). The Pioneers average 11.7 three-pointers per game, seventh in Division III and first in the OAC.

As a team, Otterbein averages 72.6 points per game and allows 73.4 points. Sophomore point guard Ross Banaszak leads the Cardinals in scoring (16.1 ppg), three-pointers (39), 3-point shooting proficiency (.453), assists (4.1 apg) and steals (2.2 spg). Ousley ranks 14th in division III in rebounding (10.5 rpg) and 8th in blocks (3.1 per game) to go with 14.2 points. Young leads the team in field goal percentage (.544) and contributes 9.0 points and 4.8 boards, while Wells averages 9.2 points and is second on the team with 34 three-pointers.

Otterbein is 74-35 all-time against Marietta and has won 10 of the past 11 meetings.

Probable Marietta starters include Luckhardt (8.5 ppg, 3.6 apg), freshman guard Isaiah Creasap (7.7 ppg), freshman forward Colby Reese (2.4 ppg, 3.0 rpg), Stewart (15.7 ppg, 1.3 rpg), and Rucker (9.2 ppg, 5.2 rpg).

Probable Otterbein starters include Ousley (14.2 ppg, 10.5 rpg), Banaszak (16.1 ppg, 4.1 apg), Young (9.0 ppg, 4.8 rpg), Wells (9.2 ppg, 2.7 rpg), and Murphy (5.3 ppg, 2.0 rpg).

The Cardinals go on the road next Saturday to take on Baldwin-Wallace, 3 p.m., in Berea.

Cards Defeat Capital in Physical Game
Written by Craig Coleman 01/29/06

Senior center Tyler Ousley grabbed a career-high 16 rebounds and junior guard Adam Wells knocked down 5 threes to lead Otterbein past Capital, 64-59, Saturday at The Rike Center.

In what proved to be a physical matchup, the game went down to the wire.

With the Cardinals down one, 59-58, sophomore guard Eric Murphy found Ousley underneath who finished a three-point play with 52 seconds left. Capital missed three consecutive 3-pointers down the stretch and Murphy and Ousley made 3 of 4 free throws to seal the game.

“It was a typical Otterbein-Capital game,” said 34th-year head coach Dick Reynolds. “With the game being televised locally a lot of people got a chance to see us and I thought our young guys rose to the occasion. We were a little outmatched physically, but I thought we fought very hard.”

Otterbein outrebounded Capital 39-28 and shot 41 percent from the field, though just 33 percent (9 of 27) on three-pointers. Unlike the last game against Ohio Northern, where Ousley fouled out with 11 minutes remaining in the game, Ousley finished with just one personal foul. Needless to say, as the leading rebounder and shot blocker in the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC), the Cardinals are a much stronger team with Ousley on the floor.

Reynolds would prefer to see Ousley on the floor, but when he is out of the game Reynolds says that Otterbein must play by committee. Even when the senior is in the game, Reynolds said that Ousley is more effective when the perimeter players play well.

Down by nine, 46-37, Wells followed Ousley’s three-point play with his fourth three, drawing the Cardinals to within three, 46-43, with 11:59 left. Otterbein had enjoyed an eight point lead, 33-25, in the first half but Capital ripped off a 21-4 run to take its largest lead of the game. The Cardinals struggled to attack the Crusaders zone defense and were limited to just one field goal over a six minute stretch.

Wells fifth 3-pointer tied the game at 50 and then sophomore point guard Ross Banaszak, who finished with 17 points, nailed a three as the shot clock expired to regain the lead. Banaszak’s third steal led to his layup and Otterbein pushed its lead to four, 58-54, before Capital crawled back ahead with 1:24 left on a layup from sophomore forward Jake Meisler.

Meisler, coming off a career-high 28 points last Wednesday, finished with just 9 points on 4-of-15 shooting. Freshman guard Nate Stahl, Captial’s leading scorer (14.2 ppg), was held to just 6 points, while freshman guard Ryan Wood led the team with 13 points.

Ousley finished with a game-high 18 points and 4 blocks, the most important block coming with 3:02 remaining and Meisler driving to the basket to tie the game. Ousley recovered from his weakside position to deny the attempt. Though Capital regained the lead later on, Ousley’s energy, intensity, and defensive presence continually brought life to the home crowd and lifted the team’s confidence.

“I think what you saw tonight was a wholesome Division III college atmosphere,” Reynolds said. “When the athletes are allowed to compete and when the fans act the way they did tonight everybody enjoys the game.”

With the win, Otterbein improves to 9-10, 5-7 in the OAC, while Capital falls to 7-11, 4-8 in the OAC.

Otterbein returns home to host Marietta, 7:30 p.m., Wednesday in The Rike Center.

Cards and Crusaders Battle Again
Written by Craig Coleman 01/27/06

Otterbein hosts the Capital Crusaders in Saturday’s Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) rematch. The Cardinals, under 34th-year head coach Dick Reynolds, enter the contest 8-10, tied for 5th in the OAC at 4-7 after falling to Ohio Northern, 87-64, Wednesday in Ada.

Senior center Tyler Ousley registered his ninth straight double-double with 11 points and 12 boards to go with four blocked shots. Sophomore point guard Ross Banaszak had a team-high 15 points.

The Cardinals struggled in the game to contain the Polar Bears hot shooting. The Bears shot 58 percent in the first half, 54 percent in the second, and 56 percent for the game. Despite hitting just two 3-point field goals in the first half, the Bears nailed 8 of 11 in the second and never allowed the Cardinals back in the game. Otterbein briefly led 14-12 with 12:30 left in the first half, but 15 straight Ohio Northern points sealed the game.

Otterbein defeated Capital in the first game, 74-72, on a layup from Banaszak with 12 seconds remaining. The sophomore finished with a game-high 19 points and seven assists, including 3-of-4 three-point shooting. Ousley finished with 17 points, 11 boards, and five blocks, while junior guard Adam Wells had 15 points. Capital was led by freshman guard Ryan Wood with 16 points. Freshman guard Nate Stahl and sophomore forward Steve Kyser each contributed 15 points.

Damon Goodwin, in his 12th season at Capital, has led the Crusaders to a 7-10 record, 4-7 in the OAC after defeating Heidelberg, 80-68, at home Wednesday. Down seven at the half, Capital shot 65 percent in the second and outscored Heidelberg 51-32. Sophomore forward Jake Meisler, playing in his first game in a month, had a game-high 28 points and 10 rebounds. Sophomore point guard Pat Stolly scored a career-high 15 points.

Offensively, Capital averages 72.0 points per game and allows 70.6 points. Stahl leads the team in scoring (14.2 ppg), three-pointers (42), three-point shooting proficiency (.429), and steals (16). Meisler averages 11.7 points and leads the team in rebounding (6.3 rpg), while Kyser leads the team in field goal percentage (.504) and averages 11.6 points.

As a team, Otterbein averages 73.1 points per game and allows 74.2 points. Banaszak leads the Cardinals in scoring (16.0 ppg), three-pointers (36), 3-point shooting proficiency (.462), assists (4.2 apg) and steals (2.2 spg). Ousley leads the OAC in rebounding (10.2 rpg) and blocked shots (3.1 per game), and ranks 25th and 11th in all Division III, respectively. Sophomore guard Tommy Young contributes 9.5 points and 4.8 boards, while leading the team in field goal percentage (.549).

Probable Capital starters include Stahl (14.2 ppg, 5.0 rpg), Meisler (11.7 ppg, 6.3 rpg), Kyser (11.6 ppg, 5.1 rpg), Wood (3.0 ppg, 1.9 rpg), and sophomore guard Matty Owens (6.5 ppg, 3.2 rpg).

Probable Otterbein starters include Ousley (14.0 ppg, 10.2 rpg), Banaszak (16.0 ppg, 4.2 apg), Young (9.5 ppg, 4.8 rpg), Wells (8.7 ppg, 2.7 rpg), and sophomore guard Scott Cores (4.2 ppg, 2.0 rpg).

The game will be broadcast live on WOCC-TV, Channel 3 in Westerville.

Cards Win Third in a Row
Written by Craig Coleman 01/22/06

Senior center Tyler Ousley tallied 14 points, 13 rebounds, and 7 blocked shots to lead Otterbein past Muskingum, 71-65, Saturday at The Rike Center. Otterbein improves to 8-9, sixth in the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) at 4-6, while Muskingum falls to 11-5, 7-3 in the OAC.

Ousley, from Butler/Clear Fork, now has 14 blocked shots in the past two games and has recorded eight straight double-doubles, 11 for the season.

Head coach Dick Reynolds, in his 34th season, said that Ousley’s leadership, role on the team, and other players knowing what to expect have played big factors in the teams recent three game winning streak.

“Tyler’s our man,” Reynolds said. “Ross Banaszak and Adam Wells and Eric Murphy, and other guys coming off the bench, they have to play up to him. If they play up to him we’ll be competitive. We may not win them all, but we’ll be competitive.”

Saturday, Otterbein received those contributions. Sophomore point guard Ross Banaszak (Delaware/Rutherford B. Hayes) led all scorers with 18 points, while sophomore guard Eric Murphy (Columbus/Westerville/South) matched his career-high with 16 points.

The Cardinals recovered from poor shooting and a seven point halftime deficit to shoot 52 percent in the second half. Otterbein, which nailed 10-of-21 three-pointers, also outrebounded Muskingum in the second half 22-16 after losing the edge in the first half 26-14.

Reynolds said that the game was a reversal of the first matchup, when Otterbein jumped out to an early lead due to Muskingum’s poor first-half performance. This time, the Cardinals struggled early and turned it up late.

“I think when it came down to crunch time we physically got into a defensive mode and were able to help Tyler out, who was so effective inside,” Reynolds said. “Eric Murphy was able to contribute and Ross Banaszak made his free throws. Different guys at different times gave us the plays they needed to. Defensively, we got after it enough that when they had to have a three-pointer we were there to stop them.”

The Muskies scored the first four points of the second half before the Cardinals started to find their rhythm. Still down seven, 51-44, with 12:22 left Murphy and junior guard Adam Wells (Newark/Hebron Lakewood) nailed back-to-back 3-pointers to bring the Cardinals within one. Ousley answered a Muskie bucket with a layup, followed by Banaszak’s jumper to give the Cardinals their first lead of the game, 54-53, with 7:40 left.

Muskingum and Otterbein exchanged the lead a couple times before Murphy hit his fourth 3-pointer, third of the second half, for a three point lead. The Muskies responded with a 3-pointer to tie it at 61-61 with 4:01 left, but the Cardinals rattled off six straight free throws and hit 10 of 12 down the stretch.

Muskingum had a chance to tie the game down by two with 1:18 left but Ousley came up with his seventh block, gathered the rebound, and nailed both free throws after a foul. Ousley leads the OAC in blocked shots with 3 per game.

Sophomore guard Tommy Young (Worthington/Thomas Worthington) finished with a season-high 9 boards and freshman guard Dan Scheaf (Worthington/Kilbourne) scored a season-high 8 points.

Otterbein goes on the road next to face Ohio Northern, 7:30 p.m., Wednesday in Ada. The last time they played, the Polar Bears nailed 10-of-14 three-pointers in the first half en route to an 81-70 victory.

“We know that we can play against them, but it has to be at our peak,” Reynolds said. “We have to be playing as well as we possibly can.”

Cards Take On Red-Hot Muskies
Written by Craig Coleman 01/19/06

Otterbein hosts the Muskingum Fighting Muskies in Saturday’s Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) game. The Cardinals, under 34th-year head coach Dick Reynolds, enter the contest 7-9, 3-6 in the OAC after knocking off Marietta, 78-65, Wednesday in Marietta.

Junior guard Adam Wells led the Cardinals with a game-high 18 points, while senior center Tyler Ousley blocked a career-high 7 shots to go with 16 points and 12 boards, his seventh straight double-double. Sophomore guard Tommy Young made 9 of 11 free throws and registered 17 points and 8 boards, while sophomore guard Eric Murphy chipped in a season-high 14 points.

The Cardinals scored the first eight points of the game and held the Pioneers to just one free throw in the first four minutes. After extending the lead to 20, 38-18, with 3:24 left in the half the Cardinals withstood a 10-3 Pioneer rally and went to the break up 16, 44-28 on a 3-pointer from Murphy. Otterbein shot a red-hot 61 percent (17 of 28) in the first half, while holding Marietta to just 30 percent (11 of 37).

Marietta would close the gap to six, 60-54, with 8:30 left, but Otterbein responded with a 12-1 run in the next five minutes to seal the game. Otterbein made just 7 of 21 three-pointers but still finished 51 percent from the field, while also dishing out 16 assists.

Last Saturday, sophomore point guard Ross Banaszak hit a layup with 12 seconds left to lead Otterbein past Capital, 74-72, in Columbus. Banaszak finished with a game-high 19 points and seven assists, including 3 of 4 three-pointers. Ousley had a double-double with 17 points, 11 boards, and 5 blocks.

Muskingum, under first-year head coach Geno Ford, enters the game 11-4 and sits alone in second at 7-2 in the OAC after knocking off 25th-ranked Ohio Northern, 64-58, at home Saturday. The Muskies have now won five straight. Freshman guard Brandon Todd scored a game-high 23 points and senior forward Cole Pittis added 21 points and nine rebounds.

Muskingum freshman guard Trevor Scott chipped in seven points and extended his consecutive free throw streak to 32. Scott's .975 (39-of-40) free throw shooting percentage leads all NCAA Divisions.

Offensively, Muskingum averages 78.4 points per game and allows 71.8 points. Todd leads the team and ranks second in the OAC with 17.8 points per game, while also leading the league in assists (5.87 apg). Scott leads the team in 3-point shooting proficiency (.440), Pittis leads in rebounding (8.3 rpg) and steals (25), while senior guard Zach Ross contributes 16.9 points and averages 2.87 three-pointers per game, second in the OAC.

As a team, Otterbein averages 73.8 points per game and allows 73.9 points. Banaszak leads the Cardinals in 3-point shooting proficiency (.471), scoring (15.9 ppg), assists (4.4 apg), and steals (31). Ousley leads the OAC in rebounding (9.9 rpg) and blocked shots (2.75 per game) to go with 14.2 points per game. Young contributes 9.9 points and 4.6 boards, while Wells has averaged 15.5 points in the past four games.

Muskingum’s win against Otterbein on Jan. 7 was its first over Otterbein since 2001-02. In that game, the Cardinals led by 12 early and seven at the half, 28-21, but relinquished the lead midway through the second half. Wells led Otterbein with 17 points and Ousley pulled down 15 boards.

Probable Muskingum starters include Todd (17.8 ppg, 3.5 rpg), Ross (16.9 ppg, 5.1 rpg), Pittis (14.5 ppg, 8.3 rpg), sophomore guard Jeremy Ady (10.6 ppg, 4.4 rpg), and freshman center Mike Seibert (1.1 ppg, 1.3 rpg).

Probable Otterbein starters include Ousley (14.2 ppg, 9.9 rpg), Banaszak (15.9 ppg, 4.4 apg), Young (9.9 ppg, 4.6 rpg), Wells (9.0 ppg, 2.6 rpg), and sophomore guard Scott Cores (4.2 ppg, 1.9 rpg).

Otterbein goes back on the road to face nationally-ranked Ohio Northern, 7:30 p.m., Wednesday at the ONU Sports Center in Ada.

Cards Take One From Capital
Written by Craig Coleman 01/15/06

Sophomore point guard Ross Banaszak hit a layup with 12 seconds left and Otterbein held on to beat Capital, 74-72, Saturday at The Capital Center.

Banaszak (Delaware/Rutherford B. Hayes) finished with a game-high 19 points and seven assists, including 3 of 4 three-pointers. Senior center Tyler Ousley (Butler/Clear Fork) notched his ninth double-double, and sixth straight, with 17 points and 11 boards. Ousley also matched his career-high with five blocked shots.

Down by one, 62-61, with 4:41 left junior guard Adam Wells (Neward/Hebron Lakewood) hit two straight 3-pointers to give the Cardinals a three point lead. Capital cut the lead to one, but sophomore guard Eric Murphy (Columbus/Westerville South), coming off the bench, nailed Otterbein’s third straight 3-pointer.

“I told them during a timeout that Tyler is not going to win the game,” said 34th-year head coach Dick Reynolds, referring to Wells and Murphy. “I told them that one of you guys is going to win it. Tyler was stressed a little bit because they were sending two or three people at him and bumping him pretty good. We set it up to where he could get it to the backside, and Murphy and Wells nailed their shots.”

The Cardinals had the ball and a two point lead, 72-70, with 37 seconds left when the Crusaders Brian Alge knocked the ball from Banaszak and hit a layup to tie the game. After a timeout, Banaszak found redemption with his game-winning shot.

Otterbein led by 10 at the half, 41-31, thanks to clutch shooting and Ousley’s defensive presence. Banaszak and Wells combined for five 3-pointers, while Ousley had five blocked shots. Up 17-13 with 11:08 remaining, the Cardinals went on 12-0 run to take their largest lead of the game, 29-13.

Capital scored the first 10 points of the second half and held Otterbein scoreless for over five minutes to tie the game. The team’s traded baskets for the rest of the half.

“We got off to a good start, but I think conditioning was a factor early in the second half,” Reynolds said. “But they were able to hold their poise and execute and force an errant shot at the end and win.”

Wells finished with 15 points and a career-high 7 rebounds, sophomore guard Tommy Young (Worthington/Thomas Worthington) had 12 points and 7 boards, and Murphy 9 points.

The win snaps the Cardinals three game losing streak. Despite the team losses, injuries, and missing key starters, Reynolds said the team has not lost its confidence.

“Our confidence has been all right, but we haven’t been able to sustain it because of our numbers and the adverse situations we’ve had,” Reynolds said. “We were just not getting the breaks when we needed to, but we’re a better basketball team than we were two weeks ago and I’m happy with that.”

Otterbein improves to 6-9, 2-6 in the OAC while Capital falls to 6-8, 3-5 in the OAC. The Cardinals go on the road to take on Marietta, 7:30 p.m., Wednesday.

Cards Missing a Full House
Written by Craig Coleman 01/11/06

Ohio Northern knocked down 10 first half 3-pointers and kept Otterbein at a bay most of the night en route to an 81-70 victory Wednesday night at the Rike Center.

The Cardinals fall to 5-9, 1-6 in the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC), as the Polar Bears improve to 10-3, 5-2 in the OAC.

Senior center Tyler Ousley (Butler/Clear Fork) matched his career high with 21 points in the first half, but it wasn’t enough to beat 22nd-ranked Ohio Northern, which shot 64 percent in the first half, 51 percent for the game. Ousley finished with a career high 27 points to go with a game-high 11 boards, six assists, three blocks, and a cut above his right eye.

The story of the first half, however, was the Polar Bear shooting. With Otterbein leading by two at the 17:24 mark, Ohio Northern rattled off a 15-4 run sparked by five consecutive 3-pointers. The Cardinals responded with an 11-2 run of their own capped by an alley-oop dunk from Ousley, assisted by sophomore guard Eric Murphy (Columbus/Westerville South).

Tied at 21 with 11:19 left, Ohio Northern nailed its seventh 3-pointer and pushed the lead to 10, 48-38, at the half. Led by junior guard Greg Badenhop’s 17 points, including 4-of-6 three-pointers, the Polar Bears hit 10 of 14 threes (71.4 percent) and had five different players knock down a 3-point shot. The Cardinals kept it close by shooting 50 percent, though just 4 of 12 three-pointers.

Ohio Northern opened the second half just as they ended the first, by hitting a three. Ousley had to sit out with 17:58 left after receiving a cut above his right eye, and the Bears took advantage going up 57-39 a minute later. Otterbein trimmed the deficit to nine, 59-50, with 13:14 left after a layup and free throw from sophomore guard Tommy Young (Worthington/Thomas Worthington), but would get no closer.

The Polar Bears knocked down 12 three-pointers in the game, though they did cool off in the second half, making just 2 of 7. Murphy finished with a season-high 12 points, junior guard Adam Wells (Newark/Hebron Lakewood) had 12, Young had 11 points and 8 boards, while sophomore guard Will Parker (Middleburg Heights/Midpark) dished out a career-high 6 assists.

The Cardinals played without their two leading scorers; senior forward Kevin King (Columbus/West) and sophomore point guard Ross Banaszak (Delaware/Rutherford B. Hayes).

Otterbein takes on crosstown rival Capital (3-4, 6-7 OAC), 1:00 p.m., Saturday at The Capital Center in Columbus.

Cards Take on No. 22 Ohio Northern
Written by Craig Coleman 01/09/06

Otterbein hosts the 22nd-ranked Ohio Northern Polar Bears in Wednesday’s Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) game. The Cardinals, under 34th-year head coach Dick Reynolds, enter the contest 5-8, 1-5 in the OAC after falling, 64-59, to Muskingum Saturday in New Concord.

Otterbein dropped both OAC games on the road last week, but led at the half in each—by eight, 45-37, at Heidelberg and by seven, 28-21, at Muskingum. Senior center Tyler Ousley collected two more double-doubles on the week to bring his season total to seven. Ousley scored 16 to go with 14 boards at Heidelberg and notched a career high with 15 rebounds at Muskingum.

Senior forward Kevin King led all scorers with 22 points on 10-of-15 shooting at Heidelberg, while junior guard Adam Wells led Otterbein with 17 points against the Fighting Muskies.

The Cardinals jumped on Muskingum early, opening up a 16-4 lead ten minutes in. Up by seven at the half, the Cardinals held the Muskies to just 23 percent shooting, including 4-of-16 three-pointers. The second half was a different story, however, as the Muskies nailed 7-of-10 three-pointers and took the lead for good, 39-37, with 14:00 left. Sophomore point guard Ross Banaszak hit a three-point shot, making it 55-54 with 2:06 remaining, but Muskingum responded with its own 3-pointer.

Ohio Northern, under second-year head coach Jeff Coleman, enters the game 9-3, and sits tied for second at 4-2 in the OAC after knocking off Capital, 67-63, at home Saturday. Down 11 at the half, the Polar Bears stormed back to take their first lead of the game with just 2:41 left. Junior guard Greg Badenhop led all scorers with 31 points on 10-of-21 shooting, including 8 of 10 free throws. Junior guard Bart Hostetler, coming off the bench, chipped in nine points and five boards.

Offensively, Ohio Northern averages 79.7 points per game and ranks third in the conference allowing just 68.8 points. Badenhop, a 2004-05 All-OAC second-team selection, leads the Polar Bears in scoring (18.2 ppg), steals (27), and 3-point field goals made (30), while Hostetler leads the team in rebounding (6.8 rpg) and assists (3.5 apg). Senior guard Nate Lieb has knocked down 28 of 55 three-pointers, second in the OAC at 51 percent, and chips in 10.8 points per game.

As a team, Otterbein averages 73.8 points per game and allows 74.2 points. Banaszak leads the Cardinals in 3-point shooting (.467), scoring (16.2. ppg), assists (4.23 apg), and ranks first in the OAC in steals (2.38 spg). Ousley leads the OAC in rebounding (9.6 rpg) and blocked shots (2.23 per game) to go with 12.8 points per game. Sophomore guard Tommy Young has started all 13 games and averages 9.1 points and 3.9 rebounds.

The Cardinals swept the regular-season games against Ohio Northern last season, 83-82, at home and 69-65 on the road. Otterbein is 50-54 all-time against the Polar Bears, the last loss coming on the road in 2003-04. Ohio Northern, since 1990-91, has had 14 consecutive winning seasons.

Probable Ohio Northern starters include Badenhop (18.2 ppg, 3.7 rpg), Lieb (10.8 ppg, 3.3 rpg), junior guard Ryan Lee (6.6 ppg, 2.4 apg), junior forward Michael Hunter (5.3 ppg, 4.6 rpg), and junior guard Jared Bostelman (5.1 ppg, 3.7 apg).

Probable Otterbein starters include Ousley (12.8 ppg, 9.6 rpg), Banaszak (16.2 ppg, 4.2 apg), Young (9.1 ppg, 3.9 rpg), Wells (7.6 ppg, 2.3 rpg), and sophomore guard Scott Cores (4.8 ppg, 1.8 rpg).

The Cardinals will take on crosstown rival Capital, 1:00 p.m., Saturday at the The Capital Center in Columbus.

Cards Win Fifth Straight "O" Club Classic
Written by Craig Coleman 01/02/06

The Otterbein men’s basketball team bounced back after a difficult loss to nationally-ranked Wittenberg and won the “O” Club Classic Tournament held last Thursday and Friday at the Rike Center.

Otterbein (5-6) won the opening game, 85-61, against Nazareth and 84-78 over Ohio Wesleyan in a nail-biting championship game. It is the fifth straight year the Cardinals have won the tournament.

Senior center Tyler Ousley (Butler/Clear Fork) registered 30 points, 22 rebounds, 6 assists, and 7 blocks in the two victories and was named the tournament MVP. Sophomore point guard Ross Banaszak (Delaware/Rutherford B. Hayes) and senior forward Kevin King (Columbus/West) were also named to the all-tournament team. Banaszak knocked down 43 points, including 7-of-8 three-point shots, and dished out 11 assists, while King chipped in 33 points and 14 rebounds for the tournament.

The Battling Bishops came out firing 3-pointers in the championship game, nailing nine in the first half alone to take a 48-35 halftime lead. The halftime score, however, was not indicative of how close the first half action was. Down 10-6 just a few minutes into the game, the Bishops rattled off a 20-6 run to take a 26-16 lead with 9:24 left. Most of the damage was inflicted by forward Ben Chojnacki, who scored 18 first half points on 7-of-9 shooting.

The Cardinals battled back and cut the deficit to two at 37-35 with 2:48 left, but struggled down the stretch offensively and defensively. The Bishops hit three more 3-pointers and went into the break up 13.

“The first half was pretty much what we expected because we were coming off a great shooting night the night before,” said 34th-year head coach Dick Reynolds. “We thought we were going to shoot well again, but it didn’t happen, so in the second half we had to pull up the straps.”

Otterbein came out like a brand new team in the second half and scored the first six points. Ousley, who had just three first half points, started to dominate down low and finished with 19 points, 12 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 blocks, and 2 steals. Most importantly, his enthusiasm and energy rubbed off on the team.

“Tyler led by example,” Reynolds said. “He asked me what he needed to do, and that’s what he needed to do, and I think everybody fed off of it.”

The Cardinals cut the deficit to a point three separate times in the second half only to see the Bishops continue to pull back ahead. Down 78-71 with 4:15 left, however, the Cardinals would not surrender another point. After hitting six straight free throws, and following a missed Bishop free throw, the Cardinals worked the ball inside to Ousley who gave the Cardinals their first lead since the 14:26 mark of the first half.

Ousley then made a defensive stand on the ensuing possessing. After blocking a shot, he snared the rebound, hustled down the court and nearly finished a fast break dunk. Though he was fouled on the attempt, the senior hit both free throws.

With 21 seconds remaining, Ohio Wesleyan had a chance to tie with a 3-pointer but was whistled for a traveling violation. Banaszak knocked down a free throw to give Otterbein a four point lead and Ousley finished off the victory with a defensive rebound and two free throws. The Bishops made 3-of-14 three-pointers in the second half and scored just 30 points.

Sophomore guard Tommy Young (Worthington/Thomas Worthington) chipped in 13 points and sophomore point guard Will Parker (Middleburg Heights/Midpark) scored a season-high 10.

In the first game against Nazareth, Otterbein opened by scoring the first 13 points. The Cardinals were never really threatened in the first half, primarily because they nailed 7-of-10 three-pointers and shot 58 percent overall. Up 53-30 at the half, Otterbein extended the lead to as many as 26 points in the second half.

Otterbein dominated the boards 45-22, dished out 23 assists, and had four players score in double-figures. Banaszak led with 23 points, King had 15, Ousley 11, and junior guard Adam Wells (Neward/Hebron Lakewood) scored a career-high 17.

On Dec. 22, the Cardinals fell to third-ranked Wittenberg 60-43 in Springfield.

Otterbein returns to Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) play, 7:30 p.m., Wednesday where they will take on Heidelberg on the road in Tiffin.

Cards Knock Down Mount Union
Written by Craig Coleman 12/17/05

Senior center Tyler Ousley had his best game of the season, recording a double-double on 15 points and game-high 12 rebounds and four blocked shots, to lead the Cardinals past Mount Union, 73-63, Saturday at the Rike Center. 

Sophomore point guard Ross Banaszak added 17 points, 15 coming in the second half, to go with a game-high five assists.

The Cardinals struggled in the opening half, committing 11 turnovers that led to 17 Purple Raider points. Mount Union also shot 58 percent from the field, led by freshman guard Chris Switzer’s 10 points on 4-of-6 shooting.

“We tried to make the adjustment at halftime with our intensity level,” said 34th-year head coach Dick Reynolds. “Banaszak had to be challenged and he had to respond, because he was playing lethargic and not producing. Tyler wasn’t having a bad game, but he had to make a statement to the conference. He hasn’t been doing this. This is the line he should have.”

Ousley did dominate the boards in the first half, pulling down seven to go with six points. He also limited senior center Kyle Karpinski, Mount Union’s leading scorer at 18.1 points per game, to four first half points and just 10 for the game.

Down 33-30 at the intermission, the Cardinals came out defending and shooting, knocking down three 3-pointers, one from sophomore guard Tommy Young and two from junior guard Adam Wells, to take a 41-35 lead with 15:03 left. Mount Union hung around and slowly chipped away at the deficit.

With 7:44 left Mount Union grabbed the lead on a 3-pointer from freshman guard Kyle Miller, but then Banaszak and Ousley took over. Banaszak scored six straight points, added a steal and an assist, and after a layup by Ousley, the Cardinals were up 61-55 with 3:36 left. The Purple Raiders made one final push, but Ousley found Banaszak wide open for a 3-pointer and then tipped in a missed jumper for a 3-point-play, extending the Otterbein lead to 67-59 with 1:30 left.

“Ousley played under control,” Reynolds said. “He took the shots when he had them and we got the ball to him in position where he could do something with it, and then he didn’t try to do things he couldn’t do. He didn’t try to force his game. He played more of a controlled game.”

Reynolds added that the bench played solid and helped contribute to the win. “(Will) Parker came in and did a nice job getting us doing what we wanted to do,” Reynolds said. “I kept trying to get him more and more time, and I thought he did okay at John Carroll. We thought he could play the game, and actually, we adjusted the offense a little bit to facilitate his kind of freestyle play. And today he responded well.”

Sophomore point guard Will Parker finished with eight points, three assists, and just two turnovers in 23 minutes of action.

Ousley finished the scoring with a thunderous dunk, ending the game as well as the Otterbein four-game losing streak.

Otterbein shot 55 percent for the game and held the edge in rebounding 34-24.

With the win Otterbein improves to 3-5, 1-3 in the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC), while Mount Union falls to 2-7, 1-3 in the OAC.

The Cardinals will go on the road for a nonconference match at Wittenberg, 7:30 p.m., Thursday at the HPER Center in Springfield. Wittenberg is ranked third in the latest National Association of Basketball Coaches’ (NABC) poll.

“They have some of the best players of any Division III program,” Reynolds said. “We’ll play them as hard as we can play them and let the dust settle and see what happens. They can shoot the ball and they’re big, but we’ve never been afraid to play them.”

Cards Look to End Losing Streak
Written by Craig Coleman 12/16/05

Otterbein hosts the Mount Union Purple Raiders in Saturday’s Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) game. The Cardinals, under 34th-year head coach Dick Reynolds, enter the contest 2-5, 0-3 in the OAC after falling, 83-81, to John Carroll in conference play last Saturday in University Heights.

The Cardinals almost pulled off the upset at preseason favorite John Carroll. Sophomore guard Will Parker rebounded an intentionally missed free throw from junior guard Adam Wells and just missed a short jumper, which would have sent the game into overtime.

Sophomore guard Tommy Young scored a career-high 20 points on 8-of-11 shooting and senior forward Kevin King notched his fourth double-double of the season, collecting 18 points and 12 rebounds in just 22 minutes of action. Sophomore point guard Ross Banaszak chipped in 16 points and matched his career high of five steals.

Neither team could generate a lead larger than eight in a game that featured 20 ties. The Cardinals shot 51.9 percent for the game. The last time the Cardinals started 0-3 in the conference was in 1998-99. Otterbein went on to win the OAC Tournament and advance to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

Mount Union, under 14th-year head coach Lee Hood, enters the game 2-6, 1-2 in the OAC after falling in the final seconds, 68-67, to Capital last Saturday at home. With two seconds remaining in the game, Purple Raider guard Eric Fender missed the potential game-winning shot. Senior center Kyle Karpinski led Mount Union with a game-high 20 points while Fender added 14 and freshman guard Chris Switzer scored 13.

Offensively, Mount Union is averaging 61.4 points per game and ranks third in the OAC in scoring defense, allowing just 68.8 points. Karpinski, a 2004-05 first-team All-OAC selection, leads the Purple Raiders in scoring (18.1 ppg) and rebounding (4.8 rpg). Switzer ranks second in scoring (12.0 ppg), Fender, a junior, averages 9.3 points per game, and sophomore guard LJ Helton leads the team in assists (3.3 apg).

As a team, Otterbein is averaging 76.7 points per game and allowing 79.3 points. King continues to lead the Cardinals in scoring (17.0 ppg) and rebounding (9.3 rpg). Senior center Tyler Ousley leads the OAC in blocked shots (1.71 per game) and is second on the team in rebounding (7.9 rpg). Banaszak leads the OAC with 22 steals (3.14 spg), ranks third in assists (4.57 apg), and is second on the team in scoring (16.7 ppg).

The Cardinals split the regular-season games against Mount Union last season, a 74-63 win on the road followed by a 64-59 loss at home. Seven of the last 10 years Otterbein and Mount Union have split the season series, with the Cardinals holding a 5-5 home record. The Cardinals are 53-35 all-time against Mount Union.

Probable Mount Union starters include Karpinski (18.1 ppg, 4.8 apg), Switzer (12.0 ppg, 2.6 rpg), Fender (9.3 ppg, 1.9 apg), freshman guard Kyle Miller (5.9 ppg, 1.8 apg), and junior forward Josh Long (2.8 ppg, 2.6 rpg).

Probable Otterbein starters include King (17.0 ppg, 9.3 rpg), Ousley (11.6 ppg, 7.9 rpg), Banaszak (16.7 ppg, 4.6 apg), Young (11.4 ppg, 3.6 rpg), and Wells (6.3 ppg, 2.1 rpg).

The Cardinals will go on the road for a nonconference match at Wittenberg, 7:30 p.m., Thursday at the HPER Center in Springfield. Wittenberg is ranked third in the latest National Association of Basketball Coaches’ (NABC) poll.

Cards Look to Rebound Against Wilmington
Written by Craig Coleman 12/06/05

The Otterbein men's basketball team continues Ohio Athletic Conference play, hosting Wilmington, 7:30 p.m., Wednesday in the Rike Center.

The Cardinals, under 34th-year head coach Dick Reynolds, enter the contest 2-3, 0-1 in the OAC after falling, 102-77, to Baldwin-Wallace in the conference opener last Saturday.

The Cardinals got off to a solid start against B-W, exchanging the lead seven times in the first half. Down 17-11, Adam Wells capped off a 9-4 Cardinal run with a 3-pointer, slicing B-W’s lead to one at 21-20. A layup from Tommy Young and four points from Kevin King gave the Cardinals a 26-25 lead with 6:51 left in the first half. B-W followed with a 15-4 run to go up 10 late in the half, a lead they would not relinquish.

The red-hot Yellow Jackets shot 54.8 percent for the game, including 61.5 percent in the second half.

For the game, Otterbein shot 35.6 percent on 26-for-73 shooting, only 5-of-22 on 3-point attempts. King added his third double-double of the season with 15 points and 10 rebounds. Point guard Ross Banaszak scored 19 points on 7-for-14 shooting, including three 3-pointers, while Young finished with five rebounds and a season-high four assists. Tyler Ousley chipped in 10 points.

Wilmington, under first-year head coach Scott Reule, enters Wednesday’s game 4-1, 0-1 in the OAC after suffering its first loss of the season, 82-67, at John Carroll last Saturday. Eric Stirling, Nick Berter, and Fred Harrison each scored 13 points to pace the Quakers. Josh Rohrbacher added nine points and five rebounds in the loss.

Offensively, Wilmington is averaging 67.0 points per game and leads the OAC in scoring defense, allowing 64.4 points per game. Stirling leads the Quakers in scoring (15.2 ppg), rebounding (5.6 rpg), and assists (3.2 apg). Rohrbacher is second in scoring (9.4 ppg), followed by Broermann at 9.0 points per game. As a freshman last season, Broermann led the OAC in 3-point field percentage (44.7 percent).

As a team, Otterbein is averaging 80.0 points per game and allowing 79.6 points per game. King leads the Cardinals in scoring (19.0 ppg) and rebounding (9.2 rpg). Ousley is second in the OAC in blocked shots (1.80 per game), and second on the team in rebounding (8.6 rpg). Banaszak is second in the OAC in assists (5.0 apg) and steals (2.8 spg), and is second on the team in scoring (17.0 ppg).

The Cardinals split the regular-season games against Wilmington last season, an 82-77 loss on the road followed by a 79-51 victory at home. Over the last eight meetings Otterbein holds a 7-1 record against the Quakers.

Probable Wilmington starters include sophomore guard Zach Broermann (9.0 ppg, 2.2 apg), sophomore guard Nick Berter (7.8 ppg, 3.2 rpg), senior forward Brett Carpenter (3.0 ppg, 3.8 rpg), senior guard Josh Rohrbacher (9.4 ppg, 1.6 apg), and senior forward Eric Stirling (15.2 ppg, 5.6 rpg).

Probable Otterbein starters include senior forward Kevin King (19.0 ppg, 9.2 rpg), senior center Tyler Ousley (13.6 ppg, 8.6 rpg), sophomore point-guard Ross Banaszak (17.0 ppg, 5.0 apg), sophomore guard Tommy Young (10.8 ppg, 4.2 rpg), and junior guard Adam Wells (6.4 ppg, 1.4 apg).

The Cardinals will go on the road for their next conference match against last season’s OAC regular-season champion, John Carroll, 3 p.m., Saturday in University Heights.

Cards Open the OAC Against B-W
Written by Craig Coleman 12/01/05

Otterbein hosts the Baldwin-Wallace Yellow Jackets in Saturday’s season-opening Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) game.

The Cardinals, under 34th-year head coach Dick Reynolds, enter the contest 2-2 after falling in overtime to Transylvania (KY), 73-72, on Wednesday.

Tied at 20 with 7:05 to play in the first half, Otterbein put together a 15-5 run led by Kevin King’s eight points and three offensive rebounds to go up 10 with 1:35 left. Ross Banaszak knocked down a 3-point shot and Adam Wells added a field goal to maintain the 10 point margin at the half.

The Pioneers took a five point lead, 63-58, with 3:14 left, but the Cardinals put together a 7-0 run to go up 65-63 with 1:24 to play. The lead was short-lived and the two teams went to overtime. In the overtime period Otterbein fought back to within a point with 1:49 left, but could get no closer.

King finished the game with a team-high 23 points and season-high 14 rebounds. Banaszak contributed five steals and Tyler Ousley added three blocked shots, both season-highs.

Otterbein began the season with a four-game swing through the South, splitting a pair of games against Trinity (TX) and Southwestern (TX) at the Southwestern University Classic Tournament. The Cardinals then traveled to Arkansas last Monday to take on Hendrix and walked away with a 96-70 victory.

Baldwin-Wallace, under 26th-year head coach Steve Bankson, enters Saturday’s game 4-1 after suffering its first loss of the season, 75-72, to eighth-ranked Albion (MI) in the championship game of the Allegheny College National City Holiday Tournament in Meadville, Pennsylvania last weekend. Sophomore guard Brendan Schuler scored a career-high 24 points, shooting 7-for-9 from 3-point range to lead the Yellow Jackets.

B-W advanced to the championship game with an 89-66 victory over Allegheny as pre-season All-American Tori Davis scored 19 points to become the 33rd men's basketball player in B-W school history to surpass 1,000 career points. Senior forward Dan Gundert added 13 points, while freshman guard Dennis Santiago scored a career-high 11 points.

Offensively and defensively, Otterbein is averaging 80.8 points per game and allowing 74.0 points per game. B-W enters the game averaging 95.6 points per game, while giving up 82.6 points per game.

King, coming off his second double-double of the young season, leads the Cardinals in scoring (20.0 ppg) and is second in rebounding (9.0 rpg) and assists (12). Ousley leads the team in rebounding (9.8 rpg) to go along with a 14.5 points per game. Banaszak leads the team in assists (5.8 apg) and steals (12) and is second in scoring (16.5 ppg).

The Cardinals won both regular-season games last season, including a 13 point win at home, but fell to B-W in overtime, 78-76, in the quarterfinals of the OAC Tournament. Though B-W finished sixth in the conference, they used the win against Otterbein to propel themselves to the OAC Tournament championship.

Otterbein owns a 7-2 record against B-W in the last nine meetings.

Probable B-W starters include senior guard Keith Aufmuth (12.6 ppg, 2.6 rpg), Davis (22.8 ppg, 9.0 rpg), Schuler (11.8 ppg, 3.8 apg), sophomore guard Tyler Sekerak (5.4 ppg, 3.6 apg), and Gundert (13.0 ppg, 7.6 rpg).

Probable Otterbein starters include senior forward Kevin King (20.0 ppg, 9.0 rpg), senior center Tyler Ousley (14.5 ppg, 9.8 rpg), sophomore point-guard Ross Banaszak (16.5 ppg, 5.8 apg), sophomore guard Tommy Young (12.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg), and junior guard Adam Wells (6.0 ppg, 1.5 apg).

The Cardinals will play their second OAC match against Wilmington, 7:30 p.m., Wednesday at the Rike Center.

Cards Strive for Consistency in Trip South
Written by Mark Pfeiffer 11/30/05

Shoot well, play solid defense, take care of the ball, and more often than not you’ll win basketball games.  Those are simple truths that the 2005-06 Otterbein College basketball team has proven so far on their season-opening trip through the South, a journey that has the team in search of the right combinations. 

It’s something coach Dick Reynolds, now in his 34th year, knows all too well. 

“We’re striving for consistency, shooting the ball well one night and not the next night,” Reynolds said.  “We’re playing a lot of people to find out who can consistently perform.”

In their first game of the Southwestern University Classic, against tournament co-host Trinity University, the Cardinals shot 60.7 percent, including a blistering 67.9 percent in the second half, en route to a 99-87 win last Friday in Georgetown, Texas.  While their opposition also shot a good percentage, 56.6, Otterbein turned the ball over just nine times.  The defense chalked up nine steals, accounting for most of Trinity’s eleven turnovers.   The Cardinals limited Trinity’s second-chance opportunities—the Tigers grabbed only six offensive rebounds—and pulled in twelve more boards than their taller competition.

Sophomore point guard Ross Banaszak was red-hot, hitting 8 of 13 field goals and making six critical free throws in the final minute on the way to a career-high 26 points.  Senior center Tyler Ousley, 21 points, senior forward Kevin King, 20 points, sophomore guard Scott Cores, 14 points, and sophomore guard Tommy Young, 13 points, also reached double figures.  King grabbed a team-leading ten rebounds to give him a double-double.

Otterbein’s shooting cooled off the next night against Southwestern.  Both teams were 21 of 56 from the field, 37.5 percent, but Southwestern’s five 3-pointers and edge in free-throw attempts were enough to make a difference in a 66-56 win over the Cardinals. Otterbein was ice-cold from three-point range, making only one of 17 attempts.  During a nearly eight-minute stretch in the second half, Otterbein scored only two points.

Young kept the offense afloat with 16 points on a perfect 7-of-7 shooting.  King contributed 14 points, and Ousley added twelve.  Ousley led all players with 14 rebounds.

The Cardinals returned to their sizzling shooting Monday, whipping previously undefeated Hendrix College, 96-70, in Conway, Ark.  Otterbein made 35 of 63 from the field, including 8 of 15 three-point attempts.  The Cardinals built an 11-point halftime lead and eventually pulled away in a sharp-shooting second half.  Again, ball control was critical.  OC turned it over eight times while forcing 13 of Hendrix’s 15 turnovers.  The Cardinals out rebounded the Warriors 36 to 31 in a physical game.  Ousley led the team with ten boards and, along with 10 points, earned his second double-double.

Banaszak was back on track with a game-leading 25 points on 8-of-15 shooting.  King had a big second half, finishing with 23 points after putting up just four in the first.  Young and Cores chipped in 11 points each. Junior guard Adam Wells, hitting double- figure scoring for the first time this season, contributed 10 points in the win.

Otterbein plays Transylvania University tonight at 7 p.m. in Lexington, Ky. before heading home to begin Ohio Athletic Conference play against Baldwin-Wallace, 7:30 p.m., Saturday.  Transylvania is 2-1, with their most recent game being a loss to visiting Wittenberg, 61-52.

Cards Take a Wait and See Approach to '06
Written by Ed Syguda 10/17/05

Otterbein head coach Dick Reynolds has taken a “wait and see” approach to the 2005-06 campaign as graduation took its toll on the Cardinal men’s basketball program.

Five key experienced players—including three starters—graduated from last season’s 17-9 team, leaving behind a squad of returning players, who are somewhat unproven and inexperienced, according to Reynolds, who enters his 34th season as the OAC’s all-time leader in wins with 583.

Senior forward Kevin King is the lone returning starter from a year ago since All-OAC honorable mention shooting guard DeQuan Owens, a junior, will miss the season due to injury. Otterbein should, however, have the services of senior post Tyler Ousley, who missed last season because of injury.

King, who started 19 of 25 games, averaged 8.3 points and 6.0 rebounds last year.

“Kevin has outstanding skills,” Reynolds said. “He can play inside or out. His maturity should help with leadership for the young players.”

Ousley, who started 25 games as a sophomore, averaged 6.6 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.6 blocked shots in 2003-04.

“If healthy,” Reynolds said, “he should be a very good Division III post player. Tyler is quick, runs well, jumps well and is aggressive.”

Sophomore point guard Ross Banaszak, junior center Greg Cooper, and sophomore guard Eric Murphy round out the list of five returning lettermen.

Banaszak was named the squad’s “most outstanding freshman” while Cooper earned the “most improved player” award last season.

“After seeing considerable action last year, Ross should be ready to take the point guard and leadership role,” Reynolds said. “He is strong, aggressive and should add stability to our team.”

Otterbein opens the new season at the Southwestern University (TX) Classic Nov. 25-26. Following games at Hendrix (AR) and Transylvania (KY) Nov. 28 and 30, the Cardinals return home for their OAC opener against Baldwin-Wallace Dec. 3.

Hadley Named Most Outstanding Player
Written by Justin Hamilton 05/05/05

The Otterbein men’s basketball team put a cap on the 2004-05 season with the annual award’s banquet held last Sunday on the campus of Otterbein College.

The Cardinals concluded play at 17-9 overall and finished in a tie with Capital for second place in the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC), each 12-6. Four of the five seniors on this year’s team played an integral part in Otterbein’s 2001-02 national championship.  

Three Cardinal players were selected to All-OAC teams and two were named to the Academic All-OAC team.  A list of special award winners follows:

Scott Hadley, a senior forward from Lewis Center (Worthington Christian High School), was selected as the team’s “most oustanding player.”  Hadley led the team in scoring (14 points per game) and rebounding (7.2 per contest) and was second with 34 steals.  He was a first-team Academic All-OAC pick as well as a 2005 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District IV second team selection.  In addition, Hadley received second-team All-OAC honors.  

Tony Borghese, a senior guard from Columbus (St. Francis DeSales High School), was awarded honorable mention All-OAC honors.  Borghese led the team in assists (120) and three-pointers made (48), and was second in scoring, averaging 10 points per game.  Borghese ranks 13th in school history in points scored (1,364), and has tallied 234 rebounds, 438 assists, and 100 steals during his four-year career at Otterbein.    

DeQuan Owens, a sophomore guard from Columbus (Beechcroft High School), was given the team’s “you can count on me” award, which recognizes a player who consistently comes through in the clutch.  Owens was second on the team in scoring (11.7 points per game) and assists (66), and third with 28 steals.  He was named to the honorable mention All-OAC team.         

Neil Hohman, a senior forward from Bascom (Hopewell Loudon High School), was named honorable mention Academic All-OAC.  Hohman averaged 6.5 points per game and 4.7 rebounds per contest and shot 60.6 percent from the field.     

Ross Banaszak, a freshman guard from Delaware (Rutherford B. Hayes High School), was named the team’s “most outstanding freshmen.”  Banaszak averaged 4.4 points per game and led the team in free-throw percentage (94.9 percent).  He dished out 34 assists and was 10 of 21 from beyond the arc. 

Greg Cooper, a sophomore center from Wooster (Wooster High School), was given the “most improved player” award.  Cooper, who played in just two games as a freshman, earned time in 23 games as a sophomore.

Ten Otterbein players were awarded letters at the banquet.  The complete list follows: 

Four-year lettermen:  Borghese; Mo Ross, a senior from Sunbury (Big Walnut High School); Hadley; and Hohman. 

Two-year lettermen: Owens; and Mark Church, a senior guard from Columbus (Westland High School).

First-year letterman: Cooper; Kevin King, a junior forward from Columbus (West High School); Eric Murphy, a freshman guard from Columbus (Westerville South High School); and Banaszak.

Cards Earn 3rd Seed in OAC Tournament
Written by Justin Hamilton 02/21/05

Otterbein, the third seed, hosts sixth-seeded Baldwin-Wallace, 7:30 p.m., Wednesday in the quarterfinals of the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) Tournament.

The tournament champion receives an automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament.

Otterbein, under 33rd-year head coach Dick Reynolds, finished the regular season at 17-8 overall and 12-6 in the OAC.

Mount Union handed the Cardinals a 64-59 setback in Westerville last Saturday. Senior guard Mark Church led the Cardinals with 12 points and six rebounds while junior forward Kevin King netted 11 points.  Sophomore guard DeQuan Owens finished with 10 points, nine rebounds and six assists.

Baldwin-Wallace, under 25th-year head coach Steve Bankson, comes into the matchup 17-8 overall and 10-8 in conference play.  The Yellow Jackets, preseason favorites to win the league, have lost five of their last six games, including a 95-93 double-overtime verdict to Capital at home last Saturday.   

Senior forward Thad Davis tallied a game-high 32 points and 11 rebounds while junior forward Keith Aufmuth finished with 26 points.  Sophomore forward Tori Davis  collected 18 points and 8 rebounds. 

Probable Baldwin-Wallace starters include Thad Davis (20.5 ppg., 12.2 rpg.), Tori Davis (17.7 ppg., 8.5 rpg.), Aufmuth (10.2 ppg., 2.8 rpg.), Tom Harrington (9.1 ppg., 2.9 rpg.), and Brendan Schuler (3.7 ppg., 1.3 rpg.).

Probable Otterbein starters include Tony Borghese (10.3 ppg., 2.3 rpg.), Owens (11.6 ppg., 3.1 rpg.), Church (13.3 ppg., 5.1 rpg.), King (8.4 ppg., 6.0 rpg.), and Scott Hadley (13.7 ppg., 7.1 rpg.).

Otterbein is scoring 81.2 points per game, which is third in the OAC, while allowing 74.4.  Baldwin-Wallace is averaging 80.8 points per game while giving up 73.5.

Baldwin-Wallace leads the conference in field-goal percentage (50.8), field-goal percentage defense (40.0), three-point field-goal percentage (38.4), blocked shots (130), and defensive rebounds (28.7 per game); and ranks second in scoring margin (+7.3) and rebounding offense (40 per contest).

Otterbein leads the OAC in rebounding margin (+7.5) and three-point field-goal percentage defense (29.9); and ranks second in field-goal percentage (50.7), rebounding defense (31.9 per game), and assists (16.8 per contest); and third in scoring margin (+6.8), field-goal percentage defense (43.7), three-point field-goal percentage (36.1), and offensive rebounds (14.5 per game).   

The Cardinals lead the all-time series 49-35 and have won the last four matchups with the Yellow Jackets, including both regular-season meetings this year.  The Cardinals picked up a 65-63 victory in Berea Dec. 4 before earning an 88-75 win at home Feb. 5.
       

Cards Host Mount Union on Senior Night
Written by Justin Hamilton 02/18/05

Otterbein hosts the Purple Raiders of Mount Union in tonight’s Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) matchup.  Tonight’s contest also marks senior night for five Cardinal players.

Otterbein (17-7), under 33rd-year head coach Dick Reynolds, enters play alone in second place in the OAC at 12-5, one game behind league-leader John Carroll, who is 13-4 in conference play.  The Cardinals can clinch the number-two seed in the OAC Tournament with a win or a Capital loss to Baldwin-Wallace.  

The Cardinals defeated Wilmington, 79-51, in Westerville last Wednesday.  Otterbein led 36-27 at the half before outscoring the Quakers 43-24 in the second stanza to claim the victory.

Thirteen Otterbein players broke into the scoring column, led by senior forward Scott Hadley, who netted a game-high 12 points and seven rebounds.  Senior point guard Tony Borghese finished with 11 points and nine assists, while senior forward Mark Church and junior forward Kevin King each collected 10 points. 

Mount Union, under 13th-year head coach Lee Hood, enters the contest 12-12 overall and 8-9 in the OAC.  The Purple Raiders have already earned the number-seven seed in the OAC Tournament.  

Mount Union upended Muskingum, 61-59, in New Concord last Wednesday. 

The Purple Raiders held a 29-20 lead before the Fighting Muskies ended the first half on a 17-1 spurt to take a 37-30 lead.  Mount Union senior forward Brett Hershberger knocked down two free throws with 29 seconds left to give Mount Union a 61-59 lead.  Muskingum missed a layup with six seconds left.     

Senior guard Brad Gerard led Mount Union with 16 points, including four three-pointers.  Junior center Kyle Karpinski finished with 12 points while Hershberger had 10.  Senior forward Chris Blakely collected nine points and 14 rebounds.    

Probable Mount Union starters include Clay Sanders (4.9 ppg., 2.2 rpg.), Gerard (10.3 ppg., 2.2 rpg.), Blakely (9.4 ppg., 9.0 rpg.), Hershberger (13.0 ppg., 3.6 rpg.), and Karpinski (18.8 ppg., 5.9 rpg.).

Probable Otterbein starters include Borghese (10.5 ppg., 2.3 rpg.), DeQuan Owens (11.7 ppg., 2.8 rpg.), Church (13.3 ppg., 5.1 rpg.), King (8.3 ppg., 6.0 rpg.), and Hadley (13.9 ppg., 7.3 rpg.).

Otterbein is scoring 82.1 points per game, which is third in the OAC, while allowing 74.8.  Mount Union is averaging 71.2 points per game while giving up 71.1, which is third in the OAC

Mount Union leads the conference in assists (17.1 per contest), ranks second in field-goal percentage defense (43.2), and third in three-point field-goal percentage defense (31.2). 

Otterbein leads the OAC in rebounding margin (+7.6) and field-goal percentage (51.6); ranks second in three-point field-goal percentage defense (30.6), rebounding defense (31.5 per game), and assists (16.9 per game); and third in scoring margin (+7.3), field-goal percentage defense (43.6), three-point field-goal percentage (37.6), and offensive rebounds (14.2 per game).   

The Cardinals lead the all-time series 53-34, but the Purple Raiders have won three of the last four meetings.  Otterbein ended a three-game losing streak against Mount Union with a 74-63 victory in Alliance Dec. 18. 

Four Cardinals scored in double figures, led by Borghese, who scored a game-high 19 points.  Church finished with 15 points while Hadley had 13 points and 11 rebounds.  Senior forward Neil Hohman came off the bench to score 10 points.  Karpinski led the Purple Raiders with 17 points while Blakely collected 15 points and 12 rebounds.  Hershberger also broke double figures with 12 points.

Otterbein will be back in action, 7:30 p.m., Wednesday when it hosts an opponent to be determined in the quarterfinals of the OAC Tournament.
    

Hadley Named to Academic All-District Team
Written by Ed Syguda 02/17/05

Senior Scott Hadley was named to the 2005 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District IV men’s basketball second team, released today by the College Sports Information Director’s of America (CoSIDA).

Hadley, from Lewis Center (Worthington Christian High School), garnered the most votes among members of the second team.

A four-year starter, Hadley maintains a 3.568 grade-point average in middle childhood education. He is a two-time Academic All-Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) selection and was recently named OAC Scholar Athlete of the Month.

The 6-5 forward/center is averaging 13.9 points and 7.3 rebounds a game for the 17-7 Cardinals, who sit second in the OAC at 12-5.

Academic All-District IV team members are selected through voting by CoSIDA, a 2,000-member organization consisting of sports public relations professionals for colleges and universities in the United States and Canada. District IV encompasses the states of Alabama, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and Tennessee.

Cards Host Wilmington
Written by Justin Hamilton 02/14/05

Otterbein hosts the Quakers of Wilmington College, 7:30 p.m., Wednesday in an Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) matchup.

Otterbein (16-7), under 33rd-year head coach Dick Reynolds, enters play alone in second place in the OAC at 11-5, one game behind league-leader John Carroll, who is 12-4 in conference play.  The Cardinals can clinch a home game in the quarterfinals of the OAC Tournament with a win tonight.    

Two-time defending OAC champion John Carroll earned the inside track to capture the top seed in the OAC Tournament with an 86-73 victory over Otterbein in University Heights last Saturday. 

The Cardinals jumped out to an 18-7 lead eight minutes into the game, but John Carroll ended the stanza on a 23-12 run to tie the game at 30 heading into the locker room.  The Blue Streaks knocked down their first two three-pointers to start the second half to take a 36-32 lead and would not trail again the rest of the way. 

Senior point-guard Tony Borghese led Otterbein with 16 points while sophomore guard DeQuan Owens finished with 15. 

Wilmington, under first-year head coach Marc Kuntz, enters the contest 9-14 overall and 5-11 in the OAC.  The Quakers are vying with Heidelberg (4-12) for the final spot in the OAC Tournament.  

The Quakers were upended by Heidelberg, 73-70, at home last Saturday. 

Wilmington led 16-7 with 10:37 left in the first half before Heidelberg ran off 17-3 spurt to take a 24-19 advantage with 3:41 remaining.  The Quakers responded to take a 31-29 lead at the half.  Wilmington held a 69-65 lead with 3:57 left to play, but Heidelberg outscored the hosts 8-1 to end the game and claim the victory.    

Senior forward Deon Short led Wilmington with 20 points, seven rebounds, and five steals.  Junior forward Eric Stirling pitched in 14 points and four rebounds. 

Probable Wilmington starters include Short (14.7 ppg., 5.1 rpg.), Stirling (14.5 ppg., 5.9 rpg.), David Guy (11.2 ppg., 2.8 rpg.), Zach Broermann (7.3 ppg., 1.6 rpg.), and Josh Rohrbacher (5.8 ppg., 3.1 rpg.).

Probable Otterbein starters include Borghese (10.5 ppg., 2.4 rpg.), Owens (11.8 ppg., 2.9 rpg.), Mark Church (13.5 ppg., 5.3 rpg.), Kevin King (8.2 ppg., 6.1 rpg.), and Scott Hadley (14.0 ppg., 7.3 rpg.).

Otterbein is scoring 82.2 points per game, which is third in the OAC, while allowing 75.8.  Wilmington is averaging 69 points per game while giving up 72.7.

Wilmington ranks second in the league in free-throw percentage (73.9), and third in steals (232) and three-point field-goals made (173). 

Otterbein leads the OAC in rebounding margin (+7.9) and field-goal percentage (51.2); ranks second in three-point field-goal percentage defense (31.3), and rebounding defense (31.7 per game); and third in scoring margin (+6.4), three-point field-goal percentage (37.2), assists (388), and offensive rebounds (14.5 per game).    

The Cardinals lead the all-time series 20-7 and have won eight of the nine meetings between the two schools since Wilmington joined the OAC in 2000-01.  The Quakers defeated Otterbein 82-77 at home Dec. 8, which was their first win over Otterbein since 1951-52.

Four Cardinals scored in double figures, led by Church and Hadley, who scored 18 and 16 points, respectively.  Borghese and freshman guard Ross Banaszak scored 13 each.  Stirling led Wilmington with 22 points while Guy finished with 18.  Short also broke double figures with 12 points.

Otterbein will be back in action, 7:30 p.m., Saturday when it hosts Mount Union in the final game of the regular season.
       

Blue Streaks Upend Otterbein  
Written by Ed Syguda 02/12/05

Otterbein dropped out a share of the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) lead, but with two games remaining in regular-season play, that just might be temporary.

The Cardinals, under 33rd-year head coach Dick Reynolds, dropped an 86-73 decision to two-time defending OAC champion John Carroll Saturday afternoon in University Heights.

With the win, the Blue Streaks, 18-4 overall, take over sole possession of first place in the OAC at 12-4. The Cardinals, 16-7 overall, drop a game back into second place with an 11-5 mark.

Otterbein plays its final two games at home, hosting Wilmington Wednesday and Mount Union next Saturday. John Carroll, meanwhile, visits Heidelberg Wednesday and hosts Ohio Northern on Saturday.

The Cardinals jumped out to an early 9-2 lead behind four points from senior guard Mark Church and extended it to as many as 11 points, up 18-7 on a jumper from senior forward Kevin King with 12:02 to play in the first half. Otterbein still led by 10, 22-12, with 8:15 remaining.

The Blue Streaks, however, began to take advantage of their size inside, especially after Otterbein lost the services of King and senior forward/center Scott Hadley, both sitting on the bench with three fouls apiece. The Blue Streaks, behind 17 first-half points from sophomore forward/center Brandon Mimes, closed out the period with a 10-3 run to catch Otterbein at the break, 30-30.

John Carroll, under 13th-year head coach Mike Moran, carried its momentum over into the second half, opening with a three-pointer from freshman guard John Curran and never trailed again although the game remained tight over the next 13 minutes of play.

Otterbein senior point guard Tony Borghese scored on a layup to pull the Cardinals within three, trailing just 55-52 with 7:14 to play. The Blue Streaks, however, scored the next eight points, five of those coming from senior guard Demetrius Travis, to take a double-digit lead, 63-52, with 5:27 to go. John Carroll made 17 free throws down the stretch.

Borghese, 16 points, and sophomore guard DeQuan Owens, 15 points and five rebounds, led Otterbein. Mimes, 23 points, and senior point guard Pete Moran, 25 points, led the Blue Streaks.

The Cardinals out-rebounded John Carroll, 39-29, but committed 25 turnovers in the loss. The Blue Streaks took advantage at the free-throw line, making 31 of 41 attempts.

Cards, Streaks to Meet for Sole Possession  
Written by Ed Syguda 02/10/05

Three wins away from an Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) regular-season championship, Otterbein heads into one of its biggest games of the season—taking on the Blue Streaks of John Carroll, 3 p.m., Saturday in University Heights.

“Oh, if you want to put it into the context of playing for the lead in the league, yes it is the biggest game of the season,” said Otterbein head coach Dick Reynolds about Saturday’s matchup. “But then the next game becomes the biggest game, and then the next game becomes the biggest game because we have to win out to win the league and get the home court advantage throughout the tournament.”

Otterbein (16-6) and John Carroll (17-4) come into the game sharing the league lead, each with 11-4 OAC marks. The Cardinals won big, 95-75, at Heidelberg Wednesday night while visiting John Carroll was knocking Capital out of a share of the OAC lead with a 73-69 win in Columbus.

With only two games remaining in regular-season play following Saturday’s matchup, the winner of the game between Otterbein and John Carroll should have the best shot of winning the OAC regular-season title and earning the top seed in the OAC Tournament.

But it is crowded at the top since only two games separate the top six teams in the OAC. Baldwin-Wallace (17-5) and Capital (14-7) are just one game out of first place, each 10-5, while Muskingum (14-8) and Ohio Northern (12-10) are just two games off the pace, each 9-6 in league play.

The good news for Otterbein, however, is that it gets to play its final two games of the season against Wilmington (9-13, 5-10) and Mount Union (10-12, 6-9) at home. And the Cardinals may be playing their best basketball of the season right now.

“I think we’ve played better in the last two games than we have had during the year,” Reynolds said.

Last night at Heidelberg, ten Otterbein players scored, with 30 points coming off the bench. Otterbein shot 63.1 percent from the field, 7 of 10 from three-point range, and committed just 13 turnovers.

In last Saturday’s 88-75 home win over Baldwin-Wallace, all ten players scored, with 38 points coming from the bench. Otterbein made 10 of 16 three-point field goal attempts and committed just 11 turnovers. The Cardinals out-rebounded the Yellow Jackets, 41 to 29.

Although the schedule favors Otterbein, the Cardinals must first get past John Carroll, and that’s not an easy task.

The Blue Streaks, two-time defending OAC regular-season and tournament champion, took the first meeting of the season, 94-81, way back on Dec. 11 in Westerville.  Otterbein mainstays Scott Hadley, 21 points and 10 rebounds, and Tony Borghese, 19 points and three assists, led the Cardinals.

Keeping John Carroll off the free-throw line is one goal Reynolds has set for his team this weekend. The Blue Streaks made 25 of 30 free-throw attempts in the season’s first encounter.

“They beat us at the free-throw line badly,” Reynolds said. “Every other aspect of the game, we were competitive. We’ll try to sustain our play and keep them off the free-throw line. Not turn the ball over as much as we have.”

Cards Move into 3-Way Tie Atop the OAC 
Written by Ed Syguda 02/09/05

Otterbein, with four games remaining in regular-season play, finds itself in a three-way tie for first place in the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC).

And it comes as no surprise to Otterbein head coach Dick Reynolds.

“No, that’s just the conference,” Reynolds said when asked about the recent string of upsets in the OAC. “We’ve got to go to Heidelberg and John Carroll. We could lose them both. John Carroll has to go to Capital. They could lose to Cap. That’s just our conference.”

The Cardinals, using balanced scoring and showing improving depth, swept a pair from Marietta, 118-106, and Baldwin-Wallace, 88-75, last week to move into a tie with Capital and John Carroll at the top of the league standings. Six Cardinal players scored ten or more points in each game while players off the bench combined to average 36.5 points over the two wins.

Key in Otterbein’s ascension to the top of the OAC were back-to-back Muskingum wins over Capital and John Carroll last Saturday and Sunday, respectively.

Otterbein heads into the home stretch coming off of one of its best performances of the season in its win over Baldwin-Wallace at home last Saturday.

“I think we sustained things better offensively and defensively, and our substitutions prevented us from going into lapses,” Reynolds said about the B-W win.

All ten players scored against Baldwin-Wallace with 38 points coming off the bench. Otterbein made 10 of 16 three-point field-goal attempts and committed just 11 turnovers in the game. The Cardinals out-rebounded the Yellow Jackets, 41 to 29.

Otterbein closes out the regular season with road games at Heidelberg, 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, and John Carroll, 3 p.m., Saturday. The squad finishes at home with Wilmington Feb. 16 and Mount Union on Feb. 19.

OAC Race Heats Up--Cards Host B-W 
Written by Justin Hamilton 02/03/05

Otterbein hosts the Yellow Jackets of Baldwin-Wallace, 7:30 p.m., Saturday in a key Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) matchup.

Otterbein (14-6), under 33rd-year head coach Dick Reynolds, enters play locked in a share of third place with Baldwin-Wallace (16-4), each 9-4 in the OAC. The two teams trail league-leader Capital (14-5, 10-3) by just one game. John Carroll (15-3), still needing to make up one game with Muskingum, sits second with a 9-3 conference mark.

Senior guard Mark Church and sophomore guard DeQuan Owens, each with 23 points, helped led Otterbein to a 118-106 victory at Marietta Wednesday.

The Cardinals trailed 34-27 before going on a 22-14 run to end the half with a 49-48 lead. Otterbein continued its momentum in the second half, leading by as many as 18 points. Otterbein shot 65 percent from the field and put six players in double figures. Senior point guard Tony Borghese handed out a career-high 13 assists.

Baldwin-Wallace, under 25th-year head coach Steve Bankson, was upset by Heidelberg, 96-86, at home Wednesday. The Yellow Jackets came into the game ranked 12th by D3hoops.com.

Heidelberg led 21-20 with 9:46 left in the first half before ripping off a 28-9 run over the next seven minutes to take a 49-29 advantage.  The ‘Berg led by 16, 56-40, at the half, thanks to making 11 of 15 three-points attempts in the first period.  Heidelberg upped its lead to as many as 21 points, 74-53, with 12:28 left to play. Baldwin-Wallace mounted a 31-16 run over the next 10 minutes to cut the deficit to 90-84 but could not get any closer. 

Sophomore forward Tori Davis collected 19 points and 11 rebounds while senior forward Thad Davis tallied 19 points and eight rebounds.  Senior guard Tom Harrington finished chipped in 13 points.

The Yellow Jacket brother-duo of Thad Davis and Tori Davis has been one of the top combinations in the OAC.  Thad leads the OAC in scoring (20.2 points per game), rebounding (12.8 per contest), and is tied with Tori for the OAC lead in blocked shots (40).  Tori leads the conference in field-goal percentage (61.7), and ranks third in scoring (17.8 points per game) and rebounding (8.9 per contest). 

Probable Baldwin-Wallace starters include Thad Davis (20.2 ppg., 12.8 rpg.), Tori Davis (17.8 ppg., 8.9 rpg.), Keith Aufmuth (10.1 ppg., 2.7 rpg.), Harrington (9.1 ppg., 2.8 rpg.), and Brendan Schuler (3.8 ppg., 1.2 rpg.).

Probable Otterbein starters include Borghese (10.1 ppg., 2.6 rpg.), Owens (11.4 ppg., 2.8 rpg.), Church (13.8 ppg., 5.4 rpg.), Kevin King (8.2 ppg., 6.4 rpg.), and Scott Hadley (14.7 ppg., 7.4 rpg.).

Otterbein is scoring 81.8 points per game while allowing 75.4.  Baldwin-Wallace is averaging 82.1 points per game while giving up 72.6.

Baldwin-Wallace leads the conference in field-goal percentage (51.5), field-goal percentage defense (39.3), three-point field-goal percentage (38.7), blocked shots (102), and defensive rebounds (29.3 per game).

Otterbein leads the OAC in rebounding margin (+7.4); and ranks second in field-goal percentage (50.7), field-goal percentage defense (43.0), three-point field-goal percentage defense (30.5), rebounding defense (32.4 per game), and assists (348). 

The Cardinals lead the all-time series 48-35 and have won the last three matchups with the Yellow Jackets, including a 65-63 victory in Berea Dec. 4.  The Cardinals led the entire game and held the Yellow Jackets to just 28 percent shooting in the first half.  Otterbein also recorded 10 blocks in the game. 

Four Cardinals scored in double figures, led by Church and Hadley, each with 11 points.  Owens and junior center Tyler Ousley scored ten each.  Tori Davis collected a game-high 26 points to lead Baldwin-Wallace. Thad Davis added 14 points and 16 rebounds.  Harrington also broke double figures with 10 points.

Otterbein will be back in action, 7:30 p.m., Wednesday when it travels to Tiffin to take on Heidelberg.
     

Cards Square off Against Ohio Northern 
Written by Justin Hamilton 01/25/05

Otterbein hosts the Polar Bears of Ohio Northern, 7:30 p.m., Wednesday in an Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) matchup.

Otterbein, under 33rd-year head coach Dick Reynolds, enters the contest 12-5 overall and 7-3 in the OAC.  The Cardinals defeated Muskingum, 82-74, in New Concord last Sunday. 

Otterbein led by as many as 12 points in the first half before claiming a 37-31 lead at the break.  The Cardinals outscored Muskingum 11-4 to start the second half to take a 48-35 advantage with 16:05 left to play.  The Fighting Muskies cut the deficit to five points on two separate occasions, but got no closer the rest of the way.

Senior guard Tony Borghese poured in a career-high 27 points, including seven three-pointers, which was one trey short of tying a school record.  Senior forward Scott Hadley scored 11 points, while junior forward Kevin King collected 10 points and eight rebounds. 

Ohio Northern, under 13th-year head coach Joe Campoli, enters the matchup 9-8 overall and 6-4 in conference play.  The Polar Bears, making 33 of 36 free-throw attempts, defeated Wilmington, 85-79, on the road last Monday.

The Polar Bears raced out to a 40-21 advantage before claiming a 43-33 lead at intermission.  Ohio Northern bumped their lead back to 14 points, 57-43, with 13:20 left to play.  Wilmington responded with a 13-0 spurt to cut the deficit to 57-56 with 9:54 remaining.  The Quakers tied the game on three separate occasions down the stretch, but Ohio Northern outscored Wilmington 14-8 over the last 4:18 to preserve the win.  

Sophomore forward Greg Badenhop led the Polar Bears with a game-high 23 points, including a perfect 10 of 10 from the free-throw line.  Freshman guard Kyle Gehle and sophomore guard Charlie Kelly came off the bench to deliver 16 and 13 points, respectively.     

Probable Ohio Northern starters include Badenhop (17.2 ppg., 3.6 rpg.), Nate Lieb (10.1 ppg., 2.8 rpg.), Jared Bostelman (5.0 ppg., 1.5 rpg.), Bart Hostetler (3.8 ppg., 4.6 rpg.), and Phil Hoying (9.4 ppg., 3.8 rpg.).

Probable Otterbein starters include Borghese (10.4 ppg., 2.6 rpg.), DeQuan Owens (9.9 ppg., 2.3 rpg.), Mark Church (13.7 ppg., 5.3 rpg.), King (8.4 ppg., 6.8 rpg.), and Hadley (14.4 ppg., 7.1 rpg.).

As a team, Otterbein is averaging 79.2 points per game, which is third in the OAC, while allowing 72.2.  Ohio Northern is scoring 72.6 points per contest while giving up 70.3.

Otterbein ranks second in the OAC in field-goal percentage (49.9) and field-goal percentage defense (42.1); and third in scoring margin (+7), three-point field-goal percentage defense (30.3), rebounding defense (32.9), rebounding margin (+6.2), and assists (17.1 per game).

The Polar Bears rank second in the league in free-throw percentage (75.0) and three-point field-goal percentage (36.4); and rank third in the conference in turnover margin (+2.88) and three-point field-goals made per game (7.7). 

Ohio Northern holds a 54-49 advantage in the all-time series between the two schools, which began with a 31-28 Polar Bear victory in 1913.  Otterbein captured a 69-65 victory over Ohio Northern in Ada Jan. 12. 

The Polar Bears jumped out to a 33-12 lead, but Otterbein outscored Ohio Northern 15-3 over the next 7:15 to cut the deficit to just nine, 36-27, at the half. Otterbein rallied to tie the game at 54 with 7:09 left to play before outscoring the Polar Bears 15-11 the rest of the way to claim the win.

Owens led the Cardinals with 14 points while Borghese tossed in 12.  Badenhop scored a game-high 18 points and Hoying chipped in 13 for Ohio Northern.  Gehle came off the bench to tally 10 points.    

Cards Take on 3-Point Shooting Marietta 
Written by Justin Hamilton 01/18/05

Otterbein hosts the Pioneers of Marietta, 7:30 p.m., Wednesday in an Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) matchup.  

Otterbein, under 33rd-year head coach Dick Reynolds, enters play 10-5 overall and 5-3 in the OAC.

The Cardinals fell to cross-town rival Capital, 76-75, in Westerville last Saturday.

The two teams exchanged the lead seven times in the first half before Otterbein ripped off a 12-0 run to end the stanza and take a 37-23 halftime lead. 

Capital chipped away at the Cardinal advantage before taking its first lead in the second half, 70-69, with 2:04 left to play.  With Otterbein leading 72-71, Otterbein senior forward Neil Hohman missed a pair of free throws with just one minute remaining.  The Crusaders took advantage on the ensuing possession as Jake Beck’s tip-in put Capital up for good, 73-72, with 28 seconds to play. 

Senior guard Mark Church led the Cardinals with 16 points while senior forward Scott Hadley finished with 14 points and six rebounds.  Senior guard Tony Borghese chipped in 12 points. 

Marietta, under 13th-year head coach Doug Foote, comes into tonight’s matchup 2-13 overall and 0-8 in the OAC.  The Pioneers fell to Baldwin-Wallace, 107-96, at home last Saturday.

Marietta led through much of the first half before the Yellow Jackets took a 38-37 advantage with 4:21 left in the first half and never trailed again. The Yellow Jackets led by as many as 30 points in the second half.

The Pioneers set new OAC records in steals (21) and three-point field-goals attempted in a game (63); and tied the conference record for three-point field-goals made in a game (19). 

Senior guard Chris Fulton tossed in a team-high 25 points, including seven three-pointers.  Sophomore guard Craig Stewart, who is tied for the OAC lead in three-pointers made (43), finished with 17 points.  Freshman guard Seth Amburgey chipped in 11 while  senior forward Matt Hines also broke double figures with 10 points.       

Probable Marietta starters include Hines (16.5 ppg., 5.6 rpg.), Chad Sponseller (12.9 ppg., 2.3 rpg.), Fulton (8.9 ppg., 2.3 rpg.), Stewart (11.5 ppg., 2.6 rpg.), and Brett Atherton (4.7 ppg., 4.9 rpg.).

Probable Otterbein starters include Borghese (9.7 ppg., 2.6 rpg.), DeQuan Owens (10.2 ppg., 2.5 rpg.), Church (14.6 ppg., 5.4 rpg.), Kevin King (7.4 ppg., 6.5 rpg.), and Hadley (14.1 ppg., 6.9 rpg.). 

Otterbein is averaging 76.1 points per game while allowing 69.7.  Marietta is scoring 98.3 points per game, which is tops in the OAC, while allowing 115.1.

As a team, Marietta ranks fourth in NCAA Division III in three-point field-goals made per game (13.7) and fifth in scoring offense (98.7).  Only one opponent has failed to score more than 100 points against the Pioneers this season, which was Wilmington, an 88-78 Wilmington victory Dec. 18.    

Otterbein ranks second in the conference in field-goal percentage defense (41.7) and rebounding margin (+4.9); and third in field-goal percentage (48.0), three-point field-goal percentage defense (29.5) and blocked shots (3.7 per contest).

The Cardinals hold a 71-35 advantage in the all-time series between the two schools, which began with a 27-23 Marietta victory in 1911.  Otterbein has won seven of the last eight matchups, including both regular-season meetings a year ago.

Cards Square off Against Rival Capital 
Written by Ed Syguda 01/13/05

Otterbein takes on the Crusaders of Capital University, 7:30 p.m., Saturday in a key Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) matchup in Westerville.

The Cardinals, 10-4 overall, hold down second place in the OAC, two games behind unbeaten and defending OAC champion John Carroll (13-0, 7-0). Capital, 8-4 overall, sits third with a 4-2 conference mark. The Crusaders still must make up a game postponed due to weather with Ohio Northern, which is rescheduled for Jan. 22.

Under 33rd-year head coach Dick Reynolds, Otterbein won its third straight game, a come-from-behind 69-65 decision at Ohio Northern (5-7, 2-3) Wednesday.

The Polar Bears led by as many as 21 points, 33-12, before the Cardinals closed out the first half with a 15-3 run to narrow the deficit to nine, 36-27, by the end of the first half. Otterbein took its first lead, 56-54, on a jumper from freshman guard Ross Banaszak with 5:52 to play; and then took the lead for good, 58-57, on a made free throw from senior forward Neil Hohman with 4:32 to go.

Sophomore guard DeQuan Owens, 14 points and six rebounds, and senior point guard Tony Borghese, 12 points, led Otterbein in scoring. Senior forward Kevin King led the squad with ten rebounds. Hohman, coming off the bench, added nine points and six rebounds. Senior forward Scott Hadley, hampered with four personal fouls, played just 18 minutes of the game.

Capital, meanwhile, snapped a two-game losing streak, defeating Heidelberg, 82-70, Wednesday in Bexley.

Under 11th-year head coach Damon Goodwin, the Crusaders trailed, 46-40, before mounting an 18-9 run to take a 58-57 lead on a layup from senior forward Jake Beck with 10:24 remaining in the game. Beck finished the game with 12 points and eight rebounds.

Five Crusader players scored in double digits, including senior guard David Kalb, with a team-high 13 points. Sophomore post Jeff Hager, coming off the bench, tallied 10 points on 5-of-7 shooting from the field in just 13 minutes of play.

Probable Capital starters include Brian Alge (3.5 ppg., 1.2 rpg.), David Johnson (11.6 ppg., 2.6 rpg.), David Kalb (10.6 ppg., 3.8 rpg.), Jake Meisler (5.8 ppg., 3.6 rpg.), and Beck (18.0 ppg., 5.7 rpg.).

Probable Otterbein starters include Borghese (9.6 ppg., 2.6 rpg.), Owens (10.4 ppg., 2.6 rpg.), Mark Church (14.5 ppg., 5.5 rpg.), King (7.6 ppg., 6.5 rpg.), and Hadley (14.1 ppg., 7.0 rpg.).

Otterbein ranks fifth in the OAC in scoring offense (76.1 ppg.) and third in scoring defense (69.2 ppg.). Capital sits seventh in scoring offense (73.0 ppg.) and fourth in scoring defense (70.4 ppg.)

Otterbein took both meetings with Capital last season, winning, 65-57, on the road and, 75-73, at home. Senior Adam Stolly, with 26 and 21 points, respectively, led Capital in both while senior Aaron Minister led Otterbein in both wins, scoring 16 and 20 points.

Following Capital, Otterbein remains at home, hosting Marietta (2-12, 0-7), 7:30 p.m., Wednesday to finish its first swing through the OAC. The Cardinals visit Muskingum (9-5, 4-3) Jan. 22 for a 3 p.m. tip-off.

Cards Resume OAC Play 
Written by Ed Syguda 01/04/05

Otterbein, sitting in a four-way tie for fourth place in the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC), returns to conference action, hosting Heidelberg Thursday and Muskingum Saturday. Tip-off for both games is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

The Cardinals, under 33rd-year head coach Dick Reynolds, closed out the nonconference portion of their schedule with a 65-53 loss to 24th-ranked Wittenberg Monday night in the Rike Center.

“We need to work on everything,” Reynolds said about his team’s status after one month of play. “The one good thing is that we have won a couple of ball games.”

The Cardinals, 7-4 overall and 2-2 in the OAC, have been playing without the services of starting center Tyler Ousley, who is out for the season with a foot injury. The 6-7 junior started the first five games of the season and was averaging 7.6 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 3.2 blocked shots a game.

“Without Ousley in the post, we have to continue to play harder, collectively, because we are short-handed,” Reynolds said. “Everyone should understand that we are the underdog every game we go into because we don’t have our post player.”

Senior forward/center Scott Hadley has picked up some of the slack. He leads the Cardinals in both scoring, 15.1 points a game, and rebounding, 8.1 an outing. Senior guard Mark Church, who played at Ashland last season, is close behind, averaging 14.0 points and 5.6 rebounds a game.

In addition to Hadley and Church, the Otterbein starting lineup includes senior point guard Tony Borghese (9.8 ppg., 4.5 apg.), sophomore guard DeQuan Owens (9.8 ppg., 2.3 rpg.), and senior forward Kevin King (7.6 ppg., 5.5 rpg.).

Otterbein Hosts Wittenberg 
Written by Justin Hamilton 01/03/05

Otterbein hosts the Tigers of Wittenberg tonight in a nonconference matchup.

Otterbein, under 33rd-year head coach Dick Reynolds, is 7-3 overall.  The Cardinals captured their fourth straight, 17th overall, “O” Club Classic with an 85-80 victory over Greensboro College (NC) in Westerville last Thursday.  Otterbein defeated Defiance, 91-80, in the semifinals.

Against Greensboro, the Cardinals had to hold off a tenacious Pride squad.  There were 62 fouls whistled between the two teams along with 81 free-throw attempts.  Otterbein had two starters, DeQuan Owens and Kevin King, foul out in the second half. 

Otterbein raced out to a 15-point halftime lead and led by as many as 22 points, 62-40, in the second half.  Greensboro cut the deficit to just three points with less than a minute to play but got no closer.  

Senior guard Mark Church was named the tournament’s “most valuable player”.  Church averaged 16.5 points and seven rebounds in Otterbein’s two wins.  Senior forward Scott Hadley was named to the all-tournament team after recording double-doubles in both contests.

Tony Borghese just missed making the all-tournament team. The senior point guard tallied 25 points and eight assists in the semifinal game against Defiance. He made all six of his three-point attempts against Defiance and was perfect at the free-throw line as well, making all five of his free-throw attempts.

Wittenberg, under 12th-year head coach Bill Brown, enters play 8-2 overall.  The Tigers are ranked 24th nationally in the latest D3hoops.com poll.  Wittenberg captured its 20th Kiwanis-Wittenberg Holiday Classic with a 54-47 victory over Taylor University last Thursday.   

The Tigers trailed by eight points, 20-12, with 12:14 left in the first half before finishing the stanza on a 16-4 run to take a 28-24 halftime lead.  Wittenberg would not trail again in the game. 

Both teams were on fire in the first half as Taylor missed just six shots in the first 20 minutes and the Tigers misfired on only eight shot attempts. 

Junior forward Dane Borchers tossed in a game-high 17 points while junior forward Daniel Russ finished with 13.    

Probable Wittenberg starters include Borchers (17.0 ppg., 7.4 rpg.), Russ (14.6 ppg., 6.4 rpg.), Andy Bucheit (11.3 ppg., 4.1 rpg.), Phil Steffes (5.9 ppg., 3.8 rpg.), and Danny Brywczynski (5.4 ppg., 1.9 rpg.).

Probable Otterbein starters include Borghese (10.4 ppg., 2.7 rpg.), Owens (10.3 ppg., 2.5 rpg.), Church (14.0 ppg., 5.8 rpg.), King (7.6 ppg., 5.4 rpg.), and Hadley (15.4 ppg., 8.4 rpg.).

As a team, Otterbein is averaging 78.9 points per game while allowing 71. Wittenberg is scoring 73.9 points per game while allowing 60.2.    

Wittenberg holds a 69-47 advantage in the all-time series between the two schools, but the Cardinals have won five of the last six matchups, including a 67-57 victory in Springfield last season.   

Otterbein will be back in action, 7:30 p.m., Wednesday when it hosts Heidelberg in an OAC contest.           

Church Named OAC Co-Player of the Week 
Written by Justin Hamilton 12/21/04

Guard Mark Church, a senior from Columbus (Westland High School) was named Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) “co-player of the week,” the conference office released today.

Church had a stellar all-around game with 15 points, seven rebounds, five steals, four blocked shots and three assists in the Cardinals win against Mount Union last Saturday.

OAC Names Scott Hadley Scholar-Athlete of the Month 
Written by Ed Syguda 12/13/04

Otterbein senior basketball player Scott Hadley (Lewis Center/Worthington Christian) has been named the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) Scholar-Athlete of the Month for January.

In its seventh year of existence, the OAC Scholar-Athlete of the Month honors an exceptional student-athlete on a monthly basis. Criteria for the award consist of the student-athlete being a junior or senior status, competition in a sport that is in-season, sportsmanlike conduct and carrying at least a cumulative grade-point average (gpa) of 3.0.

Success seems to follow Scott Hadley around, especially on the basketball court.

A four-year letterman and three-year starter at Worthington Christian High School, Hadley helped lead his team to the Division IV state title in 1999, into the semifinals in 2000, and the quarterfinals in 2001 when he was named Division IV Player-of-the-Year.

But it didn’t stop there.

The 6-5, 225-pound forward/center hooked up with a talented Otterbein squad, with the likes of seniors Jeff Gibbs and Kevin Shay, and helped lead Otterbein to its first-ever national championship as a freshman in 2002.

“That was quite a blessing,” Hadley said about winning the national title. “That’s all I can say. It was an honor to be part of a team—a great team like that—playing under an incredible coach like coach Reynolds.

“I was able to win a state championship in high school, and then the national championship in college. Now I say all that’s left is a world championship,” Hadley kiddingly said.

Hadley is too smart for that, however, knowing that his playing days are numbered.

Coming into college, Hadley, who maintained a 3.971 grade-point average in high school (he was sixth in his class), was more interested in achieving academic rather than athletic awards.

“I know that down the road 20 years, people aren’t going to remember you, ‘Well, that guy could play basketball.’”

Hadley has been busy readying himself for the game of life.

The senior has maintained a 3.568 grade-point average in middle childhood education, and plans to teach math or science in middle school while coaching basketball or track and field at the high school level. Making the Dean’s List in six of 10 quarters, Hadley needs to take only 13 credit hours in each of his final two quarters to graduate on time on June 12.

Six days later, he and classmate Meredith Day, a senior sport management major, plan to marry.

Hadley attributes his success as a student-athlete to his work ethic.

“Ever since I was young, my parents always encouraged me that school work comes first, and then sports,” he said.

Putting school before sport has not hurt Hadley’s game.

Through his first three seasons, Hadley, a two-time All-OAC performer, averaged 11.2 points and 5.7 rebounds a game, starting 76 of the 81 varsity games he played. At the same time, he earned first team Academic All-OAC honors as a junior, and was an honorable mention choice his sophomore season.

Hadley, who does not work during the academic year, has managed to get himself through college nearly debt free by working with his dad’s painting company over the last eight summers. He stays active in his local church, and has taught Sunday School to 3-year-olds for about four years.

With almost a full two months left to play in his final season, Hadley is sure to find additional success on the court—and that success, it would seem, will carry over into life after basketball.

Cards Pass First Major OAC Test 
Written by Ed Syguda 12/04/04

Otterbein (4-1, 1-0), playing its fifth straight game on the road, opened Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) play in fine fashion, leading from beginning to end in a 65-63 win at preseason favorite Baldwin-Wallace (5-1, 0-1) Saturday afternoon in Berea.

But it wasn’t so easy. B-W’s Tyler Sekerak missed a game-winning three-pointer at the buzzer.

The Cardinals, under 33rd-year head coach Dick Reynolds, employed a steady defense, holding the Yellow Jackets to a 37.3 shooting percentage from the field, 28.6 percent in the first half. Otterbein pulled down 24 defensive boards and blocked 10 Yellow Jacket shots in the win.

Sophomore guard DeQuan Owens opened the scoring for Otterbein with a jumper at the 19:02 mark. Midway through the first half, the squad was up nine, 22-13, on a layup from senior forward Scott Hadley with 10:08 remaining. Otterbein extended its lead to as many as 13 points, and was up 11, 33-22, on a pair of free throws from freshman point guard Ross Banaszak with 3:27 to play in the first half.

The Yellow Jackets closed out the first half with a 7-1 run to pull within five, 34-29, at the break. Baldwin-Wallace took advantage at the free-throw line, making 12 of 16 attempts as Otterbein starters Owens, Hadley and junior center Tyler Ousley spent extra time on the bench, each picking up two fouls in the first half.

The Cardinals came out strong in the second period, scoring the first six points to push the lead back into double digits, capped off by an Ousley jumper at the 18:29 mark. The Cards still led by 11, 54-43, with 9:03 to play.

Baldwin-Wallace outscored the Cardinals, 15-5, over the next six minutes and trailed by just one, 59-58, on a Sekerak layup with 3:22 remaining.

After the two teams traded baskets, Owens nailed a pair of free throws, and B-W’s Thad Davis hit a jumper to keep it a one-point game, 63-62, with 1:27 to play. Ousley followed with a short jumper in the lane to boost the lead back to three, 65-62, with 1:04 to go.

Tori Davis made one of two free-throw attempts for B-W with 12 seconds to play. Otterbein senior guard Mark Church missed the front end of a one-and-bonus. The Yellow Jackets rebounded and called a time-out, with three seconds to play, to set up Sekerak’s last second three-point attempt.

Church led Otterbein with 11 points, seven rebounds and five blocked shots. Ousley collected ten points, six rebounds and five blocked shots. Owens tallied ten points, six rebounds and six assists. Hadley chipped in 11 points.

Otterbein, riding a four-game winning streak, remains on the road, visiting Wilmington, 7:30 p.m., Wednesday. The Cardinals open at home next Saturday, hosting John Carroll. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

Cards Return Four Starters from 20-7 Squad
Written by Ed Syguda 10/06/04

Head Coach Dick Reynolds enters his 33rd season at Otterbein with a seasoned team.

“Experience is the biggest thing we have going for us now,” Reynolds said about this year’s squad, which includes four seniors. “Our seniors played on that team with Jeff Gibbs and Kevin Shay to win a national championship.”

Otterbein returns six lettermen, including four starters, from last season’s 20-7 club. The Cardinals finished in a tie with Baldwin-Wallace for second place, each 13-5 in the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC).

Heading the list of returnees are three-time All-OAC point guard Tony Borghese and two-time All-OAC forward Scott Hadley. The pair, seniors now, started as freshmen on the 2001-02 national championship team.

Borghese, a finalist for the Bob Cousy Collegiate Point Guard of the Year Award last season, ranked among the top six in the conference for free-throw percentage (.871), three-point field goal percentage (.386), assists (4.0 a game) and made threes (2.07 a game) while averaging 14.1 points an outing.

Hadley, who averaged 11.7 points a game, ranked among the top ten in the OAC for rebounding (6.5 a game) and field-goal percentage (.512).

Junior center Tyler Ousley and sophomore guard DeQuan Owens also return to the starting lineup. Ousley averaged 6.6 points and 4.4 rebounds a game, and blocked 42 shots a year ago. Owens, who started all 25 games he played as a freshman, averaged 11.1 points and 3.0 rebounds a game.

Senior forwards Mo Ross (6.2 ppg., 1.7 rpg.) and Neil Hohman (6.0 ppg., 4.1 rpg.) round out the list of six returning lettermen.

Freshman point guard Ross Banaszak, from Delaware (Hayes), could see playing time this season, Reynolds said.

Although the Cardinals enter the new season with a veteran lineup, Reynolds will be searching for support players and is concerned about the team’s three-point shooting and physicalness under the boards.

Three Named to All-OAC Teams
Written by Justin Hamilton 03/02/04

Otterbein senior Aaron Minister (Columbus/Tree of Life), and juniors Tony Borghese (Columbus/DeSales) and Scott Hadley (Lewis Center/Worthington Christian) were named to All-Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) teams, the conference office released today.

Borghese, a first-team All-OAC selection, ranked second in the OAC in free-throw percentage (87.1), third in assists per game (4.0), and 12th in scoring (14.1 points a game).  In addition, Borghese is a finalist for the Bob Cousy award, which recognizes the point guard most valuable to his team.  The award includes players from NCAA Division I, II, and III. 

Minister and Hadley were both honorable mention All-OAC picks. 

Minister, who averaged 11 points and 5.5 rebounds per game, ranked fifth in the OAC in field-goal percentage (56.6) and was 10th in assists (2.7 per game). 

Hadley, who averaged 11.7 points per game, ranked sixth in the conference in rebounding (6.5 per game) and was 10th in field-goal percentage (51.2).  

Otterbein finished its season with a 20-7 overall record and advanced to the semifinals of the OAC Tournament, falling to Mount Union, 82-73, last Friday in University Heights.

Borghese Finalist for the Bob Cousy Award
Written by Ed Syguda 02/19/04

Otterbein’s Tony Borghese joins 15 other finalists for the inaugural Bob Cousy Collegiate Point Guard of the Year Award, announced today by the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass.

Borghese, a junior from Columbus (St. Francis DeSales High School), joins two other players from NCAA Division III selected as finalists for this award.

The award, which will recognize the best true point guard in all three NCAA Divisions (I, II, III), will be presented at a press conference at the Final Four in San Antonio on Monday, April 5, at 11:30 a.m. local time at the Marriott River Center.

The 16 finalists are: Timmy Bowers of Mississippi State, Tony Borghese of
Otterbein, Antonio Burkes of Memphis, Michael Crotty of Williams, Travis Diener of Marquette, Eric Faber of Rollins, Raymond Felton of North Carolina, Marques Green of St. Bonaventure, Devin Harris of Wisconsin, Chris Hernandez of  Stanford, Josh Mueller of South Dakota, Jameer Nelson of  St. Joseph's, Kelvin Parker of Northwest Missouri State, Chris Paul of  Wake Forest, Gabe Perez of Rochester, and Chris Thomas of Notre Dame.

Cardinals Win Thriller Over Capital
Written by Justin Hamilton 02/07/04

Otterbein won its second game over cross-town rival Capital this season with a dramatic 75-73 victory in front of a near capacity crowd in Westerville Saturday night.

The Cardinals up their mark to 15-6 overall and move into a tie for fourth place with Capital at 9-5 in the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC).  The Crusaders dip to 15-6 on the year.  

Otterbein, ranked 25th in the latest d3hoops.com poll, overcame a nine-point halftime deficit to post the victory.  The Cardinals outscored Capital 44-33 in the second half, thanks to a 61 percent field-goal percentage (13 of 21) in the second stanza.

Senior Aaron Minister (Columbus/Tree of Life) led the Cardinals with a team-high 20 points.  Junior Tony Borghese (Columbus/DeSales) scored 14 points while junior Scott Hadley (Lewis Center/Worthington Christian) netted 13. 

Capital led for nearly the entire first half and claimed its largest lead of the game at nine, 40-31, heading into halftime.

Otterbein reclaimed the lead, 44-43, with an 11-3 run to start the second half.  After a lay-in by Capital's Sam Smith gave the Crusaders a 45-44 advantage, Otterbein regained the lead with a Minister lay-in and would not trail again.

The Cardinals led by as many as six points, 65-59, with 3:58 remaining, but the Crusaders cut the margin to 65-63 with 2:46 left to play.

Capital tied the game at 67 after a lay-up by Sam Smith with 1:15 left.  

After Capital's Adam Stolly cut the deficit to one, 71-70, with 17 seconds left, freshman DeQuan Owens (Columbus/Beechcroft) and junior Neil Hohman (Bascom/Hopewell Loudon) made two pairs of charity tosses to give Otterbein a seemingly comfortable 75-70 lead with seven seconds left.

However, David Kalb hit a three for Capital to cut the deficit to 75-73 with five seconds to play.

Hohman came up short on both free throws after being fouled with four seconds left, but Capital's last second desperation heave was no good as time expired.

Stolly led Capital with a game-high 21 points, while Smith finished with 15.  

Otterbein will be back in action on Wednesday, 7:30 p.m., when it travels to Marietta for an OAC matchup. 

Hadley Named OAC Player of the Week
Written by Justin Hamilton 02/02/04

Scott Hadley, a junior forward from Lewis Center (Worthington Christian High School), was named Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) “player of the week” in men’s basketball, the conference office released today.

Hadley collected 37 points and 14 rebounds over two games last week.  The forward was 7-of-10 (.700) from the field and 11-of-14 (.786) from the charity stripe in Otterbein’s 100-83 win over OAC leader John Carroll at home last Saturday.

Otterbein, 14-5 overall and 8-4 in the OAC, travels to Ohio Northern, 7:30 p.m., Wednesday for an OAC matchup.  Cross-town rival Capital will visit the Rike Center, 7:30 p.m., Saturday.

Cardinals Back in Hunt for First Place in OAC
Written by Justin Hamilton 01/31/04

The Otterbein Cardinals put together one of their most solid outings of the season in defeating first-place John Carroll, 100-83, in Westerville Saturday evening.

The win moves the Cardinals to 14-5 overall and 8-4 in the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC).  More importantly, Otterbein is now just one game back of John Carroll and Baldwin-Wallace for first place in the OAC, both of whom are 9-3 in league play.

Junior point guard Tony Borghese (Columbus/DeSales) became just the 18th player in men's basketball history to score 1,000 career points.  Borghese tallied 16 points and six assists in the victory.

Junior Scott Hadley (Lewis Center/Worthington Christian) totaled a team-high 25 points and seven rebounds, while senior Mo Ross (Sunbury/Big Walnut) scored 13 points off the bench.  Senior Kyle Walton delivered 11 points.  Tyler Ousley (Butler/Clear Fork) and Phil Susi (Pickerington/Pickerington) also finished in double figures with 10 points apiece.

John Carroll, ranked 16th in the latest d3hoops.com poll, had beaten Otterbein just two weeks ago in University Heights, but the Cardinals jumped out early on the visiting Blue Streaks and never looked back.

The Blue Streaks held just one lead, 2-0, and fell victim to a huge Cardinal run midway through the first half.

After two free throws by Jerry Angel cut the Cardinal's lead to 18-15, Otterbein scored the next 18 points to take a commanding 36-15 lead with 7:09 left in the first half.  

Otterbein stretched its advantage to 25 points, 47-22, with 3:54 left in the first stanza.  The Cardinals held a 54-34 lead at the half.

The Blue Streaks cut the deficit to 59-45 with 17:22 left after back-to-back three-pointers by Angel and Pete Moran.  Borghese countered on the ensuing possession with a trey from the top of the circle to give the Cardinals a 62-45 lead. 

That proved to be more than enough room for the Cardinals whose lead never dipped below 15 points the rest of the way.

The Cardinals shot 57 percent from the field as a team, while holding the Blue Streaks to just a 40 percent effort.  

Otterbein will travel to Ohio Northern, 7:30 p.m., Wednesday before hosting Capital, 7:30 p.m., next Saturday.  Otterbein, Ohio Northern, and Capital are tied for second place in the OAC.  The Cardinals defeated Ohio Northern, 73-67, in Westerville Jan. 21.

Second Half Comeback Propels Cards to Win
Written by Justin Hamilton 01/21/04

The Otterbein Cardinals picked a great time to stage one of their biggest comebacks of the season as Otterbein posted a 73-67 Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) victory over Ohio Northern in Westerville Wednesday night. 

Otterbein, ranked 18th in the latest d3hoops.com poll, moves to 13-3 on the year and 7-2 in the OAC.  The Cardinals are tied with John Carroll for first place in the conference after Mount Union knocked the Blue Streaks off Wednesday evening.

The Cardinals set a new school record for free throw percentage in a single-game as Otterbein shot 25-of-26 (96.2 percent) from the charity stripe.  

Trailing 53-38 with just 10:58 left to play, things were not looking for the Cardinals.  However, an 11-1 run over the next three minutes cut the deficit to 54-49.

Senior Jim Conrad responded with a three-pointer on the ensuing posession to push the lead back to 57-49 with 7:26 left.  The trey was even bigger considering it came after Conrad, a 90 percent free throw shooter, missed both charity tosses but the Polar Bears grabbed the rebound and found Conrad in the left corner.  

The Cardinals again answered back as they used a 9-0 spurt to take their first lead of the game, 58-57, with 5:21 left.  Junior Tony Borghese (Columbus/DeSales) scored five points during the stretch, including a three-pointer from the top of the circle that cut the deficit to 57-54.

Conrad responded with a three to give Ohio Northern a 60-58 advantage, but junior Scott Hadley (Lewis Center/Worthington Christian) answered with a lay-in to tie the game at 60 with 4:42 to play.

The Polar Bears took the lead one final time, 62-60, after a jumper by Chad Bostelman.  

With Otterbein clinging to a 66-65 lead, Borghese came calling again with a three-pointer from the top of the circle as the shot clock was winding down to give the Cardinals a 69-65 advantage.  

Conrad did cut the deficit to 69-67, but Hadley and Borghese both connected on pairs of free throws down the stretch to preserve the victory. 

Borghese tallied a team-high 21 points and hit all four of his three-point tries.  Sophomore Tyler Ousley (Butler/Clear Fork) finished with 12 points, nine rebounds, and five blocked shots.  Hadley also finished with 12 points and eights rebounds.  Freshman DeQuan Owens (Columbus/Beechcroft) broke double figures with 10 points.

The Cardinals will host Mount Union, 7:30 p.m., Saturday in an OAC matchup.  The Purple Raiders handed Otterbein an 84-73 set-back earlier this season in Alliance.  

Borghese Named OAC Player of the Week
Written by Justin Hamilton 01/05/04

Tony Borghese, a junior guard from Columbus (St. Francis DeSales High School), was named Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) “co-player of the week” in men’s basketball, the conference office released today.

The point guard was named the most valuable player of the Otterbein “O” Club Classic, leading the Cardinals to wins over Westminster, 80-65, and Ohio Wesleyan, 65-64, Dec. 27-28.  Borghese tallied 38 points, four steals, five assists, and was a perfect 10 of 10 from the free-throw line in the two games.   

Borghese scored eight of Otterbein’s final 11 points and hit two free throws with 17 seconds remaining to give Otterbein the one-point victory over Ohio Wesleyan in the championship game.

This is the second time Borghese has been awarded OAC player of the week honors this season.   

Cardinals Look to Build on Momentum
Written by Justin Hamilton 12/30/03

Otterbein concluded its non-conference schedule with a thrilling, 65-64, victory over Ohio Wesleyan in the championship game of the “O” Club Classic Tournament in Westerville Dec. 28.

The Cardinals overcame an eight-point deficit with just over three minutes to play to capture the victory.  Junior point guard Tony Borghese (Columbus/DeSales) capped the comeback by sinking two free throws with 17 seconds left.

Borghese was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player while senior Aaron Minister (Columbus/Tree of Life) and junior Scott Hadley (Lewis Center/Worthington Christian) were named to the All-Tournament team.  

Otterbein defeated Westminster (PA), 80-65, in the tournament semi-finals. 

The Cardinals, 9-2 overall and 3-1 in the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC), will take nine days off before hosting Marietta Jan. 7.  Muskingum will travel to the Rike Center Jan. 10 to cap the four-game homestand.  

Otterbein is currently tied with Baldwin-Wallace, Mount Union, and John Carroll for first place in the OAC.  Mount Union handed the Cardinals their lone OAC loss in Alliance Dec. 13.  Otterbein has not played an OAC contest since defeating cross-town rival Capital, 65-57, Dec. 20.      

Cardinals Remain on the Road--Visit Capital
Written by Ed Syguda 12/16/03

Otterbein, playing eight of its first nine games on the road, visits Capital, 1 p.m., Saturday for a key Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) matchup.

“It’s a typical Capital team—very big, very aggressive,” said 32nd-year head coach Dick Reynolds.  “They have a good shooter in Adam Stolly, and three or four post players, who can shoot the ball from the perimeter, and can physically remove you from the paint. It’ll be a nightmare if we play the way we’ve played at difference times this season.”

Just three games into league play, and nine of the ten schools in the OAC already have at least one conference loss.

“It’s obvious,” Reynolds said. “The conference is up for grabs.”

The Cardinals, 6-2 overall, share second place with John Carroll (6-1), each 2-1 in the OAC and one-half game behind Mount Union (5-1), who holds the top spot at 2-0.

Capital (5-2) sits in a three-way tie with Marietta (5-2) and Baldwin-Wallace (5-2) for fourth place, each 1-1 in league play, while Ohio Northern (4-2) and Muskingum (4-3) follow in a tie for seventh place, each 2-2 in the OAC.

“Except for a couple of halves, we’ve played hard,” Reynolds said about his team’s performance so far this season. “Consistency is still a problem, and three-point shooting is still a problem.”

The Cardinals come into the week off an 84-73 conference loss at Mount Union last Saturday, which snapped an Otterbein five-game winning streak. Starting freshman guard DeQuan Owens (Columbus/Beechcroft) missed his second straight game due to an ankle injury.

The Purple Raiders couldn’t miss early, building a 51-24 lead by the half and forcing the Cardinals to play catch-up over the second period. Mount Union shot 60 percent in the first half, making 21 of 35 field-goal attempts, including 7 of 9 threes. Starting point guard Tony Borghese (Columbus/DeSales) and forward Neil Hohman (Bascom/Hopewell Loudon), coming off the bench, led the Cardinals with 13 points each.

Cardinals Continue to Roll
Written by Justin Hamilton 12/10/03

Otterbein overcame a five-point halftime deficit to post a 67-57 nonconference victory at Wittenberg Wednesday night.

The Cardinals are now 6-1 overall while Wittenberg falls to 4-3.

Senior forward Aaron Minister (Columbus/Tree of Life) led all scorers with 17 points.  Juniors Tony Borghese (Columbus/DeSales) and Scott Hadley (Lewis Center/Worthington Christian) each had 12 points in the victory.

Wittenberg looked solid in the first half as the Tigers raced out to an early 19-10 advantage after a layup by Phil Steffes with 10:39 left.

Otterbein, however, ran off the next nine points to tie the game at 19, but the Tigers responded with an 8-0 run to lead 27-19 with 5:08 left in the first stanza.  Wittenberg owned a 32-27 lead at the break.

The Cardinals would respond in the second half thanks in large part to their play on the defensive end.  

After being deadlocked at 43, Otterbein went on a 13-4 spurt to take a 56-47 lead with 6:02 left to play.  The Tigers did close to within six, 57-51, but a three-pointer by Borghese with 2:45 left gave Otterbein a 60-51 cushion and helped seal the victory for the Cardinals.

Wittenberg shot just 32 percent from the floor, including an eight-of-28 effort in the second half.  The Cardinals were just a shade better, shooting 38 percent.

Otterbein forced Wittenberg into 17 turnovers, and the Cardinals outscored the Tigers, 21-6, in points off turnovers.  

The Cardinals will travel to Mount Union Saturday, 5 p.m., for an Ohio Athletic Conference showdown with the Purple Raiders.  

Minister Named OAC Player of Week
Written by Justin Hamilton 12/08/03

Aaron Minister, a senior forward from Columbus (Tree of Life), was named Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) “player of the week” in men’s basketball, the conference office released today.

The forward collected 28 points, ten rebounds and seven assists in a pair of conference wins over Heidelberg, 96-72, and Baldwin-Wallace, 66-63.

Minister scored 12 points and dished out six assists in the win over Heidelberg.  He tossed in a team-high 16 points and collected seven rebounds against Baldwin-Wallace. 

Borghese Named OAC Player of Week
Written by Ed Syguda 12/01/03

Tony Borghese, a junior guard from Columbus (St. Francis DeSales High School), was named Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) “player of the week” in men’s basketball, the conference office released today.

The point guard collected 46 points and 13 assists in a pair of nonconference wins over Washington University, 74-72, and Fontbonne, 112-75, in the Jackson Brothers Classic last Saturday and Sunday in St. Louis, Mo.

Borghese hit the game-winning shot at the buzzer against Washington, and tallied career highs for points, 26, and assists, 10, against host Fontbonne. He shot 66.7 percent from the field (16 of 24) over the two games, and made 6 of 7 three-point attempts against Fontbonne.

Cards Seek to Build on Experience
Written by Ed Syguda 11/18/03

Head coach Dick Reynolds enters his 32nd season at Otterbein with guarded optimism and says the key to any success will come from “offensive efficiency and effort.”

The Cardinals greatest strength, heading into the new campaign, is experience. Six of the nine returning lettermen played on the 2001-02 NCAA Division III national championship team.

Reynolds will spend much of the early going sorting through the pieces of this experienced team, trying to find leadership and the right combination to put on the floor.

“We do have three or four kids, who, on any given night, could get 15 or 20 points,” Reynolds said. “We have some very capable players, but we don’t have anyone who is dominate.

“I think that was the case last year” Reynolds said. “That’s probably why we won 15 games instead of winning 20. We had no one who was the designated go-to player or star—the kind of player who could guarantee 18 to 20 points a game plus five, six or seven rebounds.”

The Cardinals return all five starters from last season’s 15-11 squad, which finished in a tie with Ohio Northern for fourth place, each 11-7 in the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC).

Heading the list of returning starters are All-OAC performers Scott Hadley, a junior forward/center, and Tony Borghese, a junior point guard. Both were starters on the 2002 national championship team.

Hadley, a second team All-OAC pick last season, averaged 14.1 points and a team-high 6.3 rebounds a game. He ranked in the top ten in the OAC for scoring, rebounding, free-throw percentage and steals.

Borghese, a two-time honorable mention All-OAC selection, led the Cardinals in scoring, averaging 14.7 points a game, and handed out 92 assists last season.

A trio of seniors—forwards Mo Ross and Aaron Minister, and center Phil Susi—round out the list of returning starters. Ross and Minister were honorable mention All-OAC picks last season.

Ross led his teammates in three-pointers made, 36, and three-point field goal percentage, 42.9, while averaging 11.5 points and 4.7 rebounds a game. Minister proved most accurate from the field, shooting 57.1 percent, and finished the season red hot, scoring 20 or more points in four of the last five games. Minister averaged 13.3 points and 6.1 rebounds an outing. Susi finished the year as the team’s leading shot blocker, averaging 1.4, along with 8.5 points and 5.6 rebounds a game.

Other players expected to play roles this season include senior guard Kyle Walton, junior forward Neil Hohman, sophomore guard Joel Brockman and sophomore center Tyler Ousley.

Walton, a three-year letterman, made eight starts last season, averaging 5.5 points a game. He ranked third among teammates for steals, 24, and assists, 52.

Hohman, a two-year letterman, played in 24 games last season and 18 as a freshman during Otterbein’s run to the national title. Brockman made 20 varsity appearances as a freshman a year ago, averaging 4.3 points a game. Ousley, playing in 23 varsity games as a freshman, ended up Otterbein’s second-leading shot blocker, with 24.

Nine freshman players have joined the 2003-04 Otterbein men’s basketball team.

DeQuan Owens, a 6-1 guard from Columbus (Beechcroft High School), should see significant playing time on the varsity squad. He helped lead his team to the Ohio Division II Final Four as a senior last season.

Other freshmen expected to contribute over the course of the season include Nate Blankenship, a 6-0 guard from Lewisburg (Tri-County North High School); Adam Wells, a 6-2 guard from Newark (Lakewood High School); and Greg Cooper, a 6-8 center from Wooster.

Otterbein opens the season in the Wooster Tournament Nov. 21-22, then travels to St. Louis, Mo. for the Fontbonne Tournament Nov. 29-30.

The Cardinals open OAC play at home, hosting Heidelberg Dec. 3.

The team, which plays eight of its first nine games on the road, continues conference action, traveling to Baldwin-Wallace Dec. 6. Following a nonconference game at Wittenberg Dec. 10, the Cardinals return to conference play with games at Mount Union Dec. 13 and cross-town rival Capital Dec. 20.

Following Christmas, Otterbein hosts the “O” Club Classic, which features teams from Westminster (PA), Ohio Wesleyan and Maryville (TN), Dec. 27-28.

Minister Named OAC Co-Player of the Week
Written 2/24/03

Junior forward Aaron Minister (Columbus/Tree of Life) tallied back-to-back career highs of 28 and 30 points and was named Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) Co-Player of the Week in men’s basketball.

Minister scored 28 in a 76-73 win at Wilmington last Wednesday, then followed up with 30 more in a 76-72 loss at Baldwin-Wallace Saturday. He hit 22 of 35 field-goal attempts over the two games for 62.9 percent.

With Otterbein’s top two scorers Scott Hadley (Lewis Center/Worthington Christian), and Tony Borghese (Columbus/DeSales), sidelined with injuries, Minister has averaged 25 points over the last four games.

Cards Open OAC Tourney with Ohio Northern
Written by Scott Rex 2/23/03

Despite dropping the regular-season finale, Otterbein earned the fourth seed and will host a quarterfinal-round game in this week’s Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) Tournament.

Otterbein (15-10, 11-7 OAC) will meet Ohio Northern (13-12, 11-7 OAC), 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, in the Rike Center.  The winner advances to Friday’s semifinal, which will be held at Baldwin-Wallace.  The tournament’s champion earns an automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament.

“Everyone works during the season to be able to host a game,” said head coach Dick Reynolds.  “I think it gives us a little leg up because you don’t have to deal with travel that night, and weather and fatigue can also be a concern.”

The Cardinals swept ONU in the regular season, taking a 74-61 decision in Ada Jan. 22, then winning 88-77 in Westerville Feb. 5.  The win in Ada was Otterbein’s first since the 1993-94 season.

“They’re a similar type team that we are—in that they’ve been up and down during the season,” Reynolds said.

Otterbein saw its three-game winning streak snapped at Baldwin-Wallace Saturday as B-W took a 76-72 decision in the regular-season curtain closer.

Junior forward Aaron Minister (Columbus/Tree of Life) did all he could to carry the Cardinals.  Less than 48 hours removed from a career-best 28-point performance at Wilmington, Minister pumped in a career-high 30 points on 12-of-18 shooting.  He also collected nine rebounds, four assists and three steals in 37 minutes.

“Aaron Minister has just been outstanding for us the last two weeks,” Reynolds said.  “He’s just given a lot of effort.”

Cards Aim for Top Four Seed in OAC Tourney 
Written by Scott Rex 2/21/03

Otterbein enters the final weekend of the regular season in a three-way tie for third place in the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC).

The Cardinals (15-9 overall, 11-6 OAC) are knotted with Ohio Northern and Mount Union.  Capital and John Carroll sit atop the standings with 14-3 conference marks.

Otterbein needs a win at Baldwin-Wallace Saturday afternoon in order to have an opportunity to host a first round game in the OAC Tournament.  The top four teams in the standings will host, before the tournament moves to Baldwin-Wallace for the Final Four. The tournament winner receives an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

Otterbein remained in the three-way deadlock with a hard-fought, 76-73 win at Wilmington Thursday night.

A pair of junior forwards, Aaron Minister (Columbus/Tree of Life) and Mo Ross (Sunbury/Big Walnut), turned in career-best performances in the win.  Minister tallied a career-best 28 points on 10-of-17 shooting, while Ross tied a career high with 26 points on 8-of-14 shooting.  Ross was 5 of 7 from beyond the arc, including 4 of 5 in the second half.  Minister tallied 21 points in the first half alone, while Ross scored 19 in the second half.  Both players also collected eight rebounds.

Junior guard Kyle Walton (Edon) collected seven points, seven rebounds, six assists and three steals in 27 minutes of action.

A 15-5 Otterbein run provided an 11-point lead the Cardinals took into the locker room.  The Cardinals opened the scoring in the second half to stretch the lead to 13, but then watched Wilmington reel off a 28-6 run over the next 10 minutes to build a nine point lead.  Otterbein answered with a 14-5 spurt to tie the game with 4:17 remaining, and then held on as the lead changed hands eight times in the final three minutes.

Saturday’s regular season finale at B-W tips at 3 p.m., while the Cards will open OAC Tournament play next Wednesday.      

Cards Readjust and Win Two 
Written by Scott Rex 2/17/03

Minus two starters and a key reserve, Otterbein rallied together to pick up a pair of wins in Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) action last week.

The Cards’ top two scorers, sophomores Tony Borghese (Columbus/DeSales) and Scott Hadley (Lewis Center/Worthington Christian), along with freshman Tyler Ousley (Butler/Clearfork) watched from the bench as Otterbein downed Marietta, 60-55, and Muskingum, 72-58.

“It was a good accomplishment for us to muster it up and get two wins without three of the top six people we’ve been playing,” said head coach Dick Reynolds.  “We just have to sustain it for another week.”

Reynolds hopes to have Borghese and Ousley back as soon as Wednesday, while a decision on Hadley will not be made until later in the week.

Aaron Minister (Columbus/Tree of Life) led Otterbein (14-9 overall, 10-6 OAC) in scoring in both contests last week.  He scored a career-high 22 points on 8-of-12 shooting against Muskingum, then tallied 20 points against Muskingum.

Minister got support from Kyle Walton (Edon), who collected 13 points and 11 rebounds against Marietta, and Joel Brockman (Sunbury/Big Walnut), who tossed in 16 points against Muskingum.

“We’ve changed some of the things we do offensively,” Reynolds said.  “We’re trying to get the ball to Aaron more who’s very offensively talented.  We had some people feed off him, which we hadn’t had since Tony and Scott went down.”

Otterbein closes the regular season this week on the road, traveling to Wilmington, 7:30 p.m., Thursday, and Baldwin-Wallace, 3 p.m., Saturday.

The Cardinals downed B-W, 70-56, Dec. 7, and Wilmington, 79-53, Jan. 15.

At 10-6, Otterbein is tied with Ohio Northern for third in the OAC entering the week.  John Carroll and Capital are tied atop the standings at 13-3.  Mount Union is one-half game behind Otterbein and ONU, pending Tuesday’s make-up game against Wilmington in Alliance.

Cards Readjust to Loss of Two Starters 
Written by Scott Rex 2/9/03

Otterbein, still battling for a top-four seed in the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) Tournament, will be short its top two scorers as the Cardinals prep for a pair of conference games in the Rike Center this week.

Sophomore forward Scott Hadley (Lewis Center/Worthington Christian) and sophomore guard Tony Borghese (Columbus/DeSales) both left Saturday’s loss at Capital with injuries suffered in the second half.  Hadley went down with an injury to his left knee, while Borghese injured his left ankle.

“We’ve had them both x-rayed, and it looks like they both have bad sprains,” said head coach Dick Reynolds.  “We expect them both to be out a week to 10 days.”

Reynolds will look to sophomore forward Neil Hohman (Bascom/Hopewell Loudon) and freshman center Tyler Ousley (Butler/Clearfork) to fill in for Hadley, while sophomore Joey Starling (Reynoldsburg) and freshmen Trent Gerhart (Marion/Wynford) and Joel Brockman (Sunbury/Big Walnut) can all expect to see increased time at guard with Borghese on the mend.

“Over the next two weeks, we’re going to have to readjust completely what we do,” Reynolds said.

Borghese leads the Cardinals in scoring, averaging 15.0 points per game. Hadley leads Otterbein in rebounding, 6.5 rebounds per game, and is second in scoring, 14.3 points per game.

Otterbein hosts Marietta, 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, then faces Muskingum in the regular-season home finale, 7:30 p.m., Saturday.  The Cardinals downed Muskingum, 64-56, Jan. 11 in New Concord, but fell to Marietta, 73-65, Jan. 8 in Marietta.

The Cardinals enter the week 12-9 overall, 8-6 in OAC play.  Capital sits atop the conference standings at 12-2, while John Carroll is one game back at 11-3.  Ohio Northern is two games behind at 9-5, while Otterbein, Baldwin-Wallace and Mount Union are bunched together at 8-6.

Cards Complete Series Sweep of ONU 
Written by Scott Rex 2/5/03

Otterbein heads to cross-town rival Capital Saturday locked in a three-way tie for third place in the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC).

Capital sits alone atop the OAC standings with an 11-2 conference record.  John Carroll is second at 10-3, followed by Ohio Northern, Mount Union and Otterbein, each 8-5.

Each of Otterbein’s final five games is pivotal, as Otterbein attempts to earn a top-four seed in the OAC Tournament.  The top four finishers earn the right to host a postseason game before the tournament shifts to Baldwin-Wallace for the Final Four.

The Cardinals completed a season-sweep of Ohio Northern with an 88-77 win in the Rike Center Wednesday night.  Tony Borghese (Columbus/DeSales) led four Cardinals in double figures with 23 points.  Aaron Minister (Columbus/Tree of Life) added 15 points, Mo Ross (Sunbury/Big Walnut), 14, and Scott Hadley (Lewis Center/Worthington Christian), 13, in the win.

Otterbein hit 7 of 9 three-pointers, setting a new single-game school record for three-point percentage (77.8 percent).  The Cardinals shot 64.4 percent from the floor and hit 23 of 28 free throws, 82.1 percent.

Capital enters Saturday’s contest winners of three straight and 12 of its last 13.  The Crusaders rolled to an 88-60 win over Wilmington Wednesday night in Columbus.

The match-up between the storied rivals promises to be an intriguing one.  The last eight Otterbein-Capital contests have been decided by seven points or less.

Tip-off is set for 1:30 p.m. in the Capital Center.

Cards Host ONU, Visit Capital 
Written by Scott Rex 2/3/03

Otterbein gears up for a pair of crucial Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) contests this week.  The Cardinals host Ohio Northern, 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, then travel to cross-town rival Capital, 1:30 p.m., Saturday.

Otterbein (11-8, 7-5 OAC) enters the week three games back of conference co-leaders Capital and John Carroll, who boast 10-2 conference records.  Ohio Northern, at 8-4 in conference play, holds a one-game lead over Otterbein, Mount Union and Baldwin-Wallace.

The Cardinals downed ONU, 74-61, in Ada on Jan. 22, but fell to Capital, 67-63, Dec. 21 in the Rike Center.

“We understand that we’re probably not going to win the conference title,” said sophomore forward Scott Hadley (Lewis Center/Worthington Christian).  “But we want to prove that we can beat every team and get ready for the OAC Tournament.”

The Cardinals saw their three-game winning streak come to an end Saturday, when John Carroll claimed an 84-79 decision in University Heights.  John Carroll took the lead for good with a quick 5-0 spurt with just over four minutes remaining.  Otterbein pulled to within two points twice, but John Carroll hit six straight free throws down the stretch to seal the win.

Last Wednesday, Otterbein rolled to a 93-71 win over Heidelberg in the Rike Center.

Hadley was the Cardinals’ high scorer in both contests.  He led five Cards in double figures with 17 points against Heidelberg, then tied a career high with 21 points against John Carroll.

“Mostly, I’m just thinking as if I’m no longer a sophomore,” Hadley said.  “I feel like I’m a junior now and I need to start playing like an upperclassman.”

Cards Win Four of Last Five 
Written by Scott Rex 1/28/03

Otterbein heads into the second round of Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) play on a roll, having won four of its past five conference games.

The Cardinals enter the week just two games out of first in the OAC.  Capital and John Carroll sit atop the conference at 8-2, while Ohio Northern is one game back at 7-3.  Otterbein and Baldwin-Wallace are tied for fourth with 6-4 conference records.

“Had we not let a couple games get away early, we would be more in the thick of things,” said head coach Dick Reynolds.  “I think it’s a matter of--are we going to correct our mistakes and go on or are we not going to make some growth?  I think we’re going to make some growth.”

The Cardinals (10-7 overall) picked up a critical road win Saturday, downing Mount Union 81-77 in overtime at Alliance.  Sophomore forward Scott Hadley (Lewis Center/Worthington Christian) led three Cardinals in double figures with 20 points.  He also grabbed a team-high eight rebounds.  Junior forward Aaron Minister (Columbus/Tree of Life) added 16 points, six rebounds and seven assists, while junior forward Mo Ross (Sunbury/Big Walnut) chipped in 15 points and seven rebounds.

“The last couple times down the court we made some plays at crucial times,” Reynolds said.  “Overall, I think we took a couple of steps.”

Ross hit three critical shots in the closing minutes.  First, his jumper with 12 seconds remaining in regulation sent the game to overtime.  Ross then scored the opening basket in the extra session and, finally, put Otterbein ahead for good with 46 seconds remaining.

“Mo had the opportunity to put a couple shots in, and he did so under pressure,” Reynolds said.  “He knows he can do it, it’s just a matter of being in the situation.”

Otterbein hosts Heidelberg, 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, then travels to conference co-leader John Carroll, 3 p.m., Saturday.  The Cardinals downed Heidelberg, 92-77, Dec. 4 in Tiffin, but fell to John Carroll, 87-78, Jan. 18 in the Rike Center.

Cards Exorcise Ada Demons 
Written by Scott Rex 1/23/03

Otterbein defeated two opponents in Ohio Northern’s Sports Center Wednesday night.

Not only did the Cardinals pick up a critical 74-61 win over ONU, but the Cards also defeated the ghosts that have haunted them on every trip to Ada for nearly a decade.

Otterbein put together perhaps its best 40 minutes of basketball this season and, in the process, snapped a 10-game losing skid at Ohio Northern. Otterbein’s last win in Ada came during the 1993-94 season.

All five Otterbein starters scored in double figures as the Cardinals shot 56 percent from the field for the contest.  Otterbein held a 37-24 edge on the boards and limited ONU to just 41 percent shooting.

“We were closer to playing a complete game than we had been for some time,” said head coach Dick Reynolds.  “Overall we did what we had to do to get the win.”

The game turned on an 11-2 Otterbein run in the second half.  A three-point Otterbein lead expanded to 12 with just under seven minutes left.  Ohio Northern would get as close as six three minutes later, but Otterbein was 6 of 6 at the foul line in the final minute to secure the win.

Junior forward Aaron Minister (Columbus/Tree of Life) led Otterbein with 18 points.  He hit 8 of 11 shots from the floor and also collected eight rebounds.

Sophomore forward Scott Hadley (Lewis Center/Worthington Christian) scored 14 points on 4-of-6 shooting, including a pair of three-pointers.  He was also 4 of 4 from the foul line in 22 minutes.

Junior center Phil Susi (Pickerington) added 13 points and seven rebounds, sophomore guard Tony Borghese (Columbus/DeSales) 11 points and six assists and junior forward Mo Ross (Sunbury/Big Walnut) 10 points and seven rebounds.

Otterbein returns to action Saturday, traveling to Mount Union for a 3 p.m. tip-off.

“It’s always a tough place to play,” Reynolds said of Mount Union.  “They play in the mid-afternoon up there, and it’s a long trip.  We hope we have some carryover from Ohio Northern.”

Cards Face Northern & Mount on the Road 
Written by Scott Rex 1/21/03

Otterbein takes to the road for a pair of pivotal Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) games this week.  The Cardinals visit Ohio Northern, 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, then travel to Mount Union Saturday for a 3 p.m. tip-off.

Entering the week, Otterbein (8-7 overall, 4-4 OAC) trails Ohio Northern by two games and Mount Union by one game in the conference standings.

Head coach Dick Reynolds knows his Cardinals must step up their level of play for this week’s critical contests.

“We’re not performing at clutch times,” Reynolds said.  “We’re not getting enough shots, we’re committing too many turnovers and we’re letting games that we can win get away from us.”

Ohio Northern’s Sports Center has been unkind to the Cardinals in recent years.  Otterbein's last win in Ada came during the 1993-94 regular season.

Otterbein dropped the first meeting with the Purple Raiders this season, 73-72, Dec. 14 in Westerville.  Brad Gerard’s three-pointer at the buzzer handed Mount Union its sixth straight win to open the season.

The Cardinals split a pair of games in the Rike Center last week, downing Wilmington, 79-53, before falling to John Carroll, 87-78, Saturday.

Junior forward Phil Susi (Pickerington) collected 12 points, a career-high 11 rebounds, four assists and four blocks against Wilmington, while sophomore guard Tony Borghese (Columbus/DeSales) paced the Cardinals with 23 points on 10-of-16 shooting in the loss to the Blue Streaks.

Cards Host Wilmington and John Carroll
Written by Scott Rex 1/13/03

After splitting a pair of games on the road, Otterbein returns home for two games this week.

The Cardinals (7-6 overall, 3-3 Ohio Athletic Conference) host Wilmington, 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, and John Carroll, 7:30 p.m., Saturday. 

The Quakers (3-10 overall, 1-5 OAC) are led offensively by two-sport standout Greg Liggens.  The 6-6 senior, who also plays football, averages 12.1 points and 6.7 rebounds per game.

Wilmington averages only 63.4 points per game, and is especially vulnerable in the second half.  Opponents have outscored the Quakers by nearly 100 points combined in the second stanza through 13 games.

John Carroll (7-5 overall, 4-2 OAC) rolls into the Rike Center Saturday night averaging a conference-best 77.2 points per game.  The Blue Streaks rank third in the OAC in scoring defense, allowing only 65.1 points per game.  John Carroll’s up-tempo offense has resulted in the Blue Streaks hoisting a conference-leading 808 shots through 12 games.  Heidelberg is second in shots taken with 763 in 13 games.

David Gibbons, who plays only 19 minutes per game off the bench, averages a team-leading 12.3 points and 7.9 rebounds for the Blue Streaks.  Jerry Angel averages 10.3 points per outing.

“Both are very formidable opponents,” said Otterbein head coach Dick Reynolds.  “Wilmington took Mount Union to overtime and John Carroll is 6-1 in the region.  They’re going to be typical Ohio Athletic Conference contests.”

At Muskingum last Saturday, Otterbein used a 17-5 second-half run to take control of the game, then held on for a 64-56 victory.  Phil Susi (Pickerington) led four Cardinals in double figures, scoring 14 points. Also in double digits were Scott Hadley (Lewis Center/Worthington Christian) and Aaron Minister (Columbus/Tree of Life) with 11 points each, and Tony Borghese (Columbus/DeSales) with 10.

Otterbein’s pressure defense held the Muskies, statistically the top-shooting team in the OAC, to just 29.8 percent shooting from the floor.

“If we had played with that intensity in several other games that we lost we would have been a lot better off,” Reynolds said.  “I thought we adjusted well to the physicalness of the game, which we did not do at Marietta.  And we got some good minutes from some people off the bench.  The rest of the season is going to depend on how the bench can step up.”

After leading by as many as seven at Marietta last Wednesday, Otterbein watched the Pioneers build a double-digit lead midway through the second half.  The Pioneers led by as many as 19 before Otterbein cut the final margin to eight, 73-65.  The three-point line was key, as Marietta outscored the Cardinals 30-6 from beyond the arc.

Hadley tallied a career-high 21 points on 8-of-14 shooting.  Susi chipped in 16 points on 7-of-8 shooting.

Cards Resume OAC Play with 2 on the Road
Written by Scott Rex 1/8/03

Otterbein hopes to carry the momentum of a second-straight “O” Club Classic championship onto the road this weekend.  The Cardinals leave Westerville for the first time since Dec. 4, visiting Marietta Wednesday night and Muskingum Saturday afternoon.

Otterbein downed Grove City, 79-69, and Mount St. Joseph, 76-67, to win its 14th title in the 23-year history of the tournament.  Junior forward Aaron Minister (Columbus/Tree of Life) was named the tournament’s most valuable player after collecting 35 points, 15 rebounds and seven assists in the two games.  He scored a career-high 20 points against Mount St. Joseph.

Sophomore guard Tony Borghese (Columbus/DeSales) was named to the all-tournament team.  He scored 33 points and dished out 10 assists in the tournament.

“I think it gives us a lot of momentum,” Minister of the tournament title.  “It gives us confidence to go up against the conference teams.  We just need to separate ourselves with some wins in the conference.”

Otterbein (6-5 overall, 2-2 Ohio Athletic Conference) meets Marietta (4-7, 0-4), 7:30 p.m., Wednesday.

Marietta prides itself on defense, allowing only 64.6 points per game, second-best in the OAC.  The Pioneers, however, are only scoring 60.3 points per game, worst in the conference.

Marietta last played Dec. 29, dropping the championship game of the Marietta Shrine Tournament, 51-42 to Savannah (GA).  The Pioneers made just 10 of 40 shots from the floor, but stayed in the game courtesy of a 19-4 edge at the foul line.  Savannah scored the final six points of the first half to build a seven-point lead the Pioneers could not overcome.

“They play a lot of guys,” Minister said.  “We’re going to see a lot of substitutions.  They’re always going to have fresh guys on the court, so it’s going to be important for us to stay out of foul trouble.”

Saturday, the Cards will face one of the best shooting teams in the OAC.  Muskingum (6-5, 2-2) ranks first in the conference in free throw percentage (76 percent) and three-point percentage (41.9 percent) and second in field goal percentage (49.7 percent).  The Muskies also lead the OAC in three-pointers made (111) and attempted (265).

The Cardinals return home Jan. 15, hosting Wilmington, 7:30 p.m.

Cards Host "O" Club Classic
Written by Scott Rex 12/23/02

Otterbein hosts the annual “O” Club Classic Friday and Saturday.  The men’s games tip at 6 and 8 p.m. both nights.

Otterbein, (4-5 overall, 2-2 Ohio Athletic Conference) meets Grove City (PA), 6 p.m., Friday.  The Cardinals enter the game on a three-game skid. 

Capital took a 67-63 decision over Otterbein in the Rike Center Saturday night.  Otterbein trailed by 16 in the first half, but opened the second stanza with a 16-6 run to take its first lead of the contest.  Following four technical fouls and an intentional foul, Capital took the lead for good with 6:51 remaining.  Otterbein tied the score at 61 with 2:06 left, but the Crusaders hit 6 of 8 free throws in the final 95 seconds to provide the final margin.

“We haven’t been able to finish,” said head coach Dick Reynolds.  “We’ve competed and played hard, but we need to take another step and be able to finish people off.”

Three Cardinals average double figures: sophomore guard Tony Borghese (Columbus/DeSales), 16.2 points per game, sophomore forward Scott Hadley (Lewis Center/Worthington Christian), 12.9 points per game and junior forward Mo Ross (Sunbury/Big Walnut), 12.7 points per game.  Junior forward Phil Susi (Pickerington) has followed his career-best 26-point performance against Wittenberg with 14 and 15 points, respectively, in his last two outings.

Grove City brings a perfect 6-0 record into the tournament.  The Wolverines last played Dec. 14, downing Denison, 83-66.  Grove City led by a point at halftime, then used a 13-1 run to take a 12-point lead with 14:26 remaining.  Nate Maurer led the Wolverines with 32 points on 13-of-18 shooting.

Maurer, a sophomore forward, is Grove City’s leading scorer, averaging 18 points per contest.  He also collects 5.2 rebounds per contest.  Junior center Phil Bushre and sophomore guard J.D. Collar also average in double figures, with 12 and 11.7 points per game, respectively.

Grove City averages 81 points per outing, while holding opponents to just 63.5 points per contest.

Friday’s second game features Mount St. Joseph and Cazenovia (NY).

Mount St. Joseph (6-2, 2-1 Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference) downed Bluffton, 67-60, Dec. 14.  Sophomore guard Chris Washington scored a game-high 23 points to lead the Lions.  Mount St. Joseph relies heavily on Tom Luther, a 6-6 junior forward, who averages 20.6 points and 10.3 rebounds per game.  Washington averages 17.1 points per contest.

Cazenovia brings a 2-5 record into the weekend.  The Wildcats dropped an 82-78 decision to Worcester State Dec. 15.

“(Grove City) was a good team last year and they have people back,” Reynolds said.  “The other two teams are formidable opponents, so it should be a good tournament.”

Saturday’s consolation game tips at 6 p.m., followed by the championship.

Otterbein won last year’s Classic with wins over Denison, 99-58, and St. Norbert (WI), 74-70.

Cards Face Cross-town Rival Capital
Written by Scott Rex 12/19/02

Otterbein continues Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) play, hosting Capital, 7:30 p.m., Saturday.

The rivalry between the schools intensified a year ago, when Otterbein defeated the Crusaders three times by a total of eight points.  The Cardinals took a 70-67 decision in the Capital Center in the regular-season finale, clinching the OAC regular-season championship.  One week later, Otterbein hung on for a 69-67 win in the Rike Center in the OAC Tournament championship game.

Head coach Dick Reynolds, however, does not expect revenge to be on the minds of the Crusaders Saturday night.  “The conference is pretty well scrambled right now,” Reynolds said.  “I think everyone’s just looking to try to win.”

Otterbein and Capital enter the weekend tied with four other schools atop the OAC standings with 2-1 conference marks.

Capital enters Saturday’s contest with a distinct size advantage in the paint.  “That’s something we’re trying to deal with, other teams’ physicalness against us,” Reynolds said.  “We’re trying to combat that the best we can.  I think the main key for us is to shoot the ball well.”

Otterbein, 4-4 overall, enters the matchup on a two-game skid.

Last Saturday, the Cards dropped a 73-72 decision to unbeaten Mount Union in the Rike Center.  The Cardinals trailed by seven, 43-36, at halftime, but scored the first 12 points after the break.  The second half featured 10 lead changes.

Junior forward Mo Ross (Sunbury/Big Walnut) connected on a pair of free throws to give Otterbein a 71-70 lead with 35 seconds remaining.  The defense held, and Scott Hadley (Lewis Center/Worthington Christian) was fouled with seven seconds remaining.  He hit the first of two foul shots to stretch the lead to 72-70.  Following an Otterbein timeout, Mount Union pushed the ball to Brad Gerard, who hit a 25-foot three-pointer at the buzzer.

“We’re striving for consistency,” Reynolds said.  “When you’re dealing with young kids, like we are, sometimes you’re going to play well, and other times you’re not going to play well.”

Hadley led four Cardinals in double figures with a career-high 20 points and 11 rebounds.  Phil Susi (Pickerington) hit double figures for the second-straight game, collecting 14 points, five rebounds, three assists and three blocked shots in just 21 minutes.  He hit 5 of 6 shots from the floor and all four of his free throw attempts.

Also in double figures were Tony Borghese (Columbus/DeSales) with 14 points and Tyler Ousley (Butler/Clearfork) with a career-high 10 points and seven rebounds.

Capital routed Marietta, 89-56, Wednesday night in the Capital Center.  The Crusaders, who outscored the Pioneers 32-3 over an eight-minute stretch in the first half, were led by Tony Ruberg’s 24 points.  Jake Beck and Mark Denner added 14 and 13 points, respectively, as 11 different Crusaders scored in the contest.

Otterbein closes out its six-game homestand next weekend, hosting the “O” Club Classic.

Susi Surprises with Career Best Night
Written by Scott Rex 12/12/02

Despite a career night from Phil Susi, Otterbein dropped a 79-71 decision to non-conference rival Wittenberg in the Rike Center Wednesday night.

Susi, a junior forward from Pickerington, scored a career-high 26 points and grabbed a career-high nine rebounds.  He hit on 6 of 10 shots from the floor, including 3 of 4 three-pointers, and buried 11 of 13 free throws.

"I had fouled out the last couple games and not seen much playing time," Susi said.  "I just wanted to go out and establish myself and play my role as a captain.  We knew they were strong inside and that we needed to offset their scoring inside."

"It was a good effort against a good basketball team," said head coach Dick Reynolds.  "He has shown that he has those capabilities."

On a night when Otterbein shot just 38 percent, Susi nearly single-handedly kept the Cardinals in the contest.  Susi scored Otterbein's first seven points of the second half, including a three-pointer that ignited a 16-5 run that tied the score at 53 with 12:30 remaining. 

Five minutes later, Susi again scored seven straight points to pull the Cardinals within three.  A pair of Tony Borghese (Columbus/DeSales) free throws cut the deficit to one, but Wittenberg scored eight straight to pull away.

"If you look at the stats, four of our guys had an off-night," Reynolds said.  "Offensively we just didn't get anything done."

"It was more of us just not executing," Susi said.  "They were tough defensively, but our philosophy is if we're running our offense, making our reads, we feel like the other team has to stop us offensively.  We didn't play together as a team last night."

Wittenberg was led by B.J. Harris' 20 points and 14 rebounds.

The Tigers, who held a 44-32 advantage on the boards, had five players grab at least four rebounds.  Every Tiger who played collected at least one rebound.

The win snaps Otterbein's 18-game home win streak.

Otterbein returns to action, 7:30 p.m., Saturday, hosting Mount Union.  Wittenberg next plays Dec. 23, traveling to Ohio Northern.

Cards Tangle with Tigers
Written by Scott Rex 12/10/02

Otterbein hosts traditional rival Wittenberg, 7:30 p.m., Wednesday in a non-conference matchup.

The Cardinals, under 31st-year head coach Dick Reynolds, enter the contest 4-2 overall, 2-0 in Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) play.  Otterbein defeated Baldwin-Wallace, 70-56, Saturday to pick up its second conference win.

Scott Hadley (Lewis Center/Worthington Christian) led the Cards with 18 points and 12 rebounds, while Tony Borghese (Columbus/DeSales) added 17 points and seven assists.  Kyle Walton (Edon) chipped in 10 points, five rebounds and four assists.

The win was Otterbein's 18th straight in the Rike Center.

Wittenberg, under 10th-year head coach Bill Brown, is 4-2 overall, 1-0 in North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) play. 

The Tigers downed Allegheny, 70-66, in their NCAC opener Saturday afternoon.  Daniel Russ and Andy Bucheit came off the bench to lead the Tigers with 15 and 14 points, respectively.  A total of seven Tigers scored at least six points in the contest.

"They have three 6-7 kids and a 6-9 kid," Reynolds said.  "They have a lot of size and can shoot well from the perimeter."

"They're very big," Hadley said.  "Physically they're going to try to just beat us and try to take us out of our game.  We just need to execute."

Probable Wittenberg starters include Peter Walker (12.2 ppg., 5.2 rpg.), B.J. Harris (11.5 ppg., 7.0 rpg.), Rod Emmons (10.2 ppg., 3.8 rpg.), Danny Brywczynski (5.0 ppg., 3.0 rpg.) and Kevin Longley (6.0 ppg., 3.3 rpg.).

Otterbein probable starters include Borghese (18.8 ppg., 2.4 rpg.), Aaron Minister (9.4 ppg., 6.6 rpg.), Mo Ross (17.4 ppg., 6.0 rpg.), Hadley (12.2 ppg., 6.0 rpg.) and Phil Susi (4.8 ppg., 3.6 rpg.).

Otterbein is averaging 80.2 points per game, while allowing 67.5 defensively.  Wittenberg is scoring 75.5 points per game, while allowing 64.7 points per contest.

Wittenberg owns a 68-46 advantage in the all-time series, but Otterbein has won the past four meetings between the schools.  Last season, Otterbein took a 73-64 decision at Wittenberg.  Jeff Gibbs led Otterbein with 20 points, 20 rebounds and eight assists, while Mo Ross (Sunbury/Big Walnut) dumped in 17 points and Borghese bucketed 15.

Borghese ranks second in the OAC in scoring and assists, third in three-point percentage and fifth in free-throw percentage.  Ross ranks fifth in scoring and fourth in three-point percentage.  Hadley is tied for third in rebounding and sixth in free-throw percentage.  Aaron Minister (Columbus/Tree of Life) leads the OAC in blocked shots.

As a team, Otterbein leads the OAC in field-goal percentage, free-throw percentage, rebounding margin, blocked shots and assists.

Otterbein remains at home this weekend, hosting Mount Union, 7:30 p.m., Saturday, in an OAC matchup.  Wittenberg is off until Dec. 23, when the Tigers travel to Ohio Northern for a 7:30 p.m. tip-off.

Cards Take Early OAC Lead
Written by Scott Rex 12/9/02

After splitting its first four games of the season, Otterbein opened Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) play with a pair of wins last week.

Saturday night, the Cardinals (4-2, 2-0 OAC) ran their home winning streak to 18 with a 70-56 win over Baldwin-Wallace.  Sophomore forward Scott Hadley (Lewis Center/Worthington Christian) tallied his first double-double of the season, collecting 18 points and 12 rebounds.  Freshman point guard Tony Borghese (Columbus/Desales) chipped in 17 points and seven assists, while junior guard Kyle Walton (Edon) added 10 points, five rebounds and four assists.

"He (Hadley) was rebounding and was able to score some points," said head coach Dick Reynolds.  "He was very much a presence inside for us, which is what we need from him."

"Our offense as a whole started to click in the second half," Hadley said.  "We just slowed down and executed our offense.  As for me, I just started taking my time and was hitting some shots."

The Cardinals held B-W to just 33 percent shooting from the floor, including a 29 percent performance (9 of 31) in the second half.

B-W jumped to an early 9-2 lead, but the Cardinals answered with three straight baskets following a timeout.  Otterbein took a four-point lead into halftime that swelled to 16 in the second half.

Otterbein opened conference play with a 92-77 win at Heidelberg last Wednesday.  Five Cardinals scored in double figures, led by junior forward Mo Ross' (Sunbury/Big Walnut) career-high 26 points.  Hadley and Walton also established new career highs, with 19 and 15 points, respectively.  Borghese added 14 points, while junior forward Aaron Minister (Columbus/Tree of Life) was also in double figures with 13.

"That's really big for us," Hadley said.  "We've talked all season about how no one person is going to win for us.  It's going to have to be a team effort.  Everyone knows their roles and is stepping up when they need to."

Otterbein is alone atop the OAC standings by virtue of games played.  The Cardinals are the lone squad to have played two conference games to date.

The Cardinals, in the midst of a six-game home stand, host non-conference rival Wittenberg, 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, then face Mount Union, 7:30 p.m., Saturday, in the Rike Center.

Cards Host B-W in Home Opener
Written by Scott Rex 12/5/02

Otterbein opens at home Saturday, hosting Baldwin-Wallace, 7:30 p.m., in an Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) match-up.

The Cardinals, under 31st-year head coach Dick Reynolds, enter the contest 3-2 overall, 1-0 in OAC play.  Otterbein downed Heidelberg, 92-77, on the road Wednesday night in the conference opener for both clubs.

Five players scored in double digits for the Cardinals, who used an 18-2 second-half run to overcome a 10-point deficit.  Mo Ross led all scorers with 26 points on 12-of-17 shooting.  He also grabbed seven rebounds.  Scott Hadley added 19 points, while Kyle Walton collected 15 points and five assists.  Tony Borghese chipped in 14 points and Aaron Minister 13 points and eight rebounds.

“I think that is going to be key for us, to not rely on one person to do the scoring or rebounding,” Reynolds said.  “It’s going to have to be by committee.”

Otterbein shot 63 percent from the field, including 7 of 9 from beyond the arc, and connected on 17 of 21 free throws.

Baldwin-Wallace, under 23rd-year head coach Steve Bankson, picked up a 76-62 win over Bethany (W.Va.) at home Wednesday night.

Guard Jon Carroll led five Yellow Jackets in double figures with 17 points, 10 assists and six rebounds.  Also in double figures were Tom Harrington, 14 points, Thad Davis, 12 points, and Shawn McCormick and Eric Reminder with 10 points apiece.

“I think they’re going to be pretty good,” Reynolds said.  “It’s going to be a test for us.”

Probable B-W starters include Harrington (10.0 ppg., 2.0 rpg.), Carroll (14.5 ppg., 3.5 rpg.), Davis (17.3 ppg., 8.0 rpg.), McCormick (18.5 ppg., 5.8 rpg.) and Reminder (10.0 ppg., 4.8 rpg.).

Otterbein probable starters include Borghese (18.8 ppg., 2.4 rpg.), Minister (9.4 ppg., 6.6 rpg.), Ross (17.4 ppg., 6.0 rpg.), Hadley (12.2 ppg., 6.0 rpg.) and Phil Susi (4.8 ppg., 3.6 rpg.).

Either Borghese or Ross has led the Cardinals in scoring in every game thus far.  The trio of Ross, Hadley and Minister, collectively averaging over 18 rebounds per game, have helped Otterbein out-rebound its opponents an average of 37-25. 

Borghese was named OAC Player of the Week two weeks ago after collecting 38 points and 16 assists in two games at the Greater Albion (MI) Chamber of Commerce Tip-Off Tournament.

As a team, Otterbein is averaging 82.2 points per game, while allowing 69.8 defensively.  Baldwin-Wallace is scoring 78.5 points per game, while allowing 73.5 per contest.

"I think we’ve shown a little progress thus far,” Reynolds said.  “The next week or so is going to show us a little more of where we’re at.”        

Otterbein has won three straight over the Yellow Jackets, including both meetings a year ago.  The Cardinals took a 108-81 decision at home last season, then won 90-80 in Berea.

Saturday’s game marks the beginning of a six-game home stand for the Cardinals.  Wittenberg visits the Rike Center Wednesday, while Mount Union travels to Westerville next Saturday.  Both games tip at 7:30 p.m.  Baldwin-Wallace travels to Wilmington next Saturday for a 3 p.m. tip-off.

Borghese Named OAC Player of the Week
Written 11/25/02 

Sophomore Tony Borghese was selected Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) men’s basketball player of the week.

Borghese, from Columbus (DeSales High School), helped the Cardinals to a 96-50 victory over Medialle (NY) in the consolation game of the Greater Albion (MI) Chamber of Commerce Tip-Off Tournament Saturday. Borghese, named to the all-tournament team, was 15-of-22 (.682) from the field for 38 points, along with 16 assists over the two games of the tournament. Otterbein dropped a 73-69 decision to Tri-State (IN) in the opening game.

Otterbein (1-1) opens with Roanoke (VA) this Saturday at the Maryville (TN) College Invitational Tournament.

Cards Open Season at Albion Tournament
Written by Scott Rex 11/19/02 

Otterbein opens the 2002-03 season this weekend, traveling to the Albion (MI) Tournament.

Otterbein, 2002 national champions, meets Tri-State (IN) at 6 p.m. Friday, followed by host Albion and Medaille (NY) at 8 p.m.  The consolation is set for 2 p.m. Saturday, with the championship game to follow.

Head coach Dick Reynolds, entering his 31st season at Otterbein, is not exactly sure what to expect this weekend.

“I have no idea what we’re going to see this weekend,” Reynolds said.  “The month of December is going to be an experiment to see who steps forward.

“I know we’re going to play hard,” he continued.  “But I’m not sure who’s going to score—scoring is a concern for us right now.”

The competition this weekend may force the Cards to grow up quickly.

“Tri-State is an NAIA school going to Division III, so they may have some leftovers there,” Reynolds said.  “And if we face Albion, they’re pretty good.”

Much like last year, Otterbein may have to rely on freshmen to provide depth.  Early on, guard Joel Brockman and center Tyler Ousley have caught Reynolds’ eye.

“Tyler Ousley is someone who has shown a little bit recently,” Reynolds said.  “He has made great strides since we’ve come together.  He’s really done some things well.”

Following this weekend, Otterbein travels to the Maryville (TN) Tournament Nov. 30-Dec. 1.  The Cards open Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) play Dec. 4 at Heidelberg, then make their Rike Center debut against Baldwin-Wallace Dec. 7.

2002-03 Season Preview
Written 10/1/02 

Fresh off a 30-3 and national championship season, head coach Dick Reynolds shrugs off talk of repeat.

“We are not even thinking about that,” said Reynolds, 2002 NABC and OAC Coach of the year, who is entering his 31st season. “The only thing we are thinking about—because of our youth and inexperience—is becoming competitive. We just hope to be competitive in the conference.”

Although Otterbein returns eight lettermen, almost half of the squad’s firepower is missing due to the loss of Jeff Gibbs and Kevin Shay. Gibbs, 2002 NABC and OAC Player of the Year, and Shay, second team All-OAC, together accounted for 41 points, 20 rebounds, and eight assists a game. As a team, Otterbein averaged 85 points, 42 rebounds and 18 assists.

Topping the list of returnees are starters Tony Borghese (12.1 ppg, 3.6 apg), a sophomore point guard, and Scott Hadley (8.9 ppg, 4.6 rpg), a sophomore forward/center; and sixth-man Mo Ross (10.5 ppg, 4.6 rpg), a junior forward. All three can shoot the three, accounting for 119 of the 198 threes Otterbein made last season.

Rounding out the list of top returnees are second-year lettermen Phil Susi, a junior center, and Kyle Walton, a junior guard; and first-year lettermen Matt Carpenter, a junior center, Joey Starling, a sophomore guard, and Neal Hohman, a sophomore forward.

The Cardinals could receive a boost from the return of juniors Aaron Minister and Bruce Miles, who did not play for the Cardinals last season. Minister, a forward, and Miles, a guard, both lettered for Otterbein as freshmen during the 2000-01 season.    

March 28, 2002

Reynolds Selected NABC Division III Coach of the Year

WESTERVILLE, OHIO – Head men’s basketball coach Dick Reynolds, who led Otterbein to its first NCAA Division III basketball championship, has been selected NCAA Division III Coach of the Year by the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC).

Reynolds will receive his award Sunday evening at the annual NABC Guardians of the Game Awards Show at the Atlanta Hilton Hotel Grand Ballroom. The awards show is held as part of the annual NABC convention in conjunction with the NCAA Final Four.

The winningest coach in the history of the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) with 531 wins, Reynolds entered this season ranked sixth nationally in victories among active Division III coaches. His overall won-lost record is 531-289, an average of almost 18 wins per season.

The Cardinals, who had a 30-3 won-lost record this season, topped Elizabethtown (PA) in the Division III championship game 102-83. Otterbein has advanced to the NCAA tournament 13 times under Reynolds, also reaching the Final Four in 1981 and 1991.

Reynolds is a nine-time OAC Coach of the Year and became the first OAC coach to take teams to conference titles over four decades. His teams have won OAC crowns outright in 1986, 1987, 1990, 1991, 1992 and 2002 while sharing titles in 1973, 1976, 1981, 1985, and 2000.

Reynolds, who is also the director of athletics at Otterbein, was a 12-time letterman for the Cardinals in football, basketball, and track before graduating in 1965.

Gibbs Selected NABC Division III Player of the Year

WESTERVILLE, OHIO - Otterbein center Jeff Gibbs, who set NCAA Division III tournament records this season for total rebounds and rebound average while leading the Cardinals to the national championship, has been selected the Division III Player of the Year by the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC).

Gibbs will receive his award Sunday evening at the annual NABC Guardians of the Game Awards Show at the Atlanta Hilton Hotel Grand Ballroom. The awards show is held as part of the annual NABC convention in conjunction with the NCAA Final Four.

The 6-1, 230-pound Gibbs, a senior from Columbus (East High School), grabbed a career-high 25 rebounds in the Division III championship game against Elizabethtown (PA). He also scored a career-high 37 points in the NCAA sectional game against DePauw (IN) to average 27.0 points and 16.6 rebounds in five tournament games.

The Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) Player of the Year and three-time first team All-OAC selection, Gibbs is Otterbein’s all-time rebounding leader with 1,496 and ranks fifth all-time in scoring with 1,924 points. He registered 30 double-doubles in 32 games this season and led NCAA Division III in rebounding, with 16.3 per game, and in field goal percentage at .667.

A four-year starter and tight end on the Cardinals’ football team, Gibbs holds Otterbein career records for touchdowns, with 29, and receiving yardage, with 2,476, and ranks second in career receptions with 162. Gibbs is the first Otterbein player to earn All-America honors in both football and basketball.

Cards Bring Home National Championship

SALEM, VA. – Otterbein wrote the final page to a storybook season in Salem Saturday night, downing Elizabethtown 102-83 to secure the school’s first national championship.

The game mirrored Friday’s semifinal, which saw the Cardinals fall behind early, then use a second-half surge to clinch the victory.

Elizabethtown, averaging 91 points per game on the season, set a frantic first-half pace. Jeff Gibbs scored eight of Otterbein’s first 10 points as the Cards led early, 10-6. Elizabethtown took their first lead of the night, 20-18, on a Bob Porambo lay-in at the 11:39 mark. A Kyle Walton three with just under nine minutes remaining gave the Cards their final lead of the half, 29-27. From there, the Blue Jays outscored Otterbein 16-2 over the next three minutes to build a 43-31 lead with six minutes left in the half.

Mo Ross’s third three-pointer of the half cut the deficit to three with a little over a minute remaining, but Elizabethtown stretched the margin to six, 54-48, at the break.

After drawing within two early in the second half, Otterbein watched the Blue Jays reel off a 9-0 run that pushed the lead to 11 with 14:54 remaining. Then the complexion of the game began to change.

Otterbein outscored Elizabethtown 18-2 over the next 6:33 to take a 72-71 lead with 8:21 remaining. Back-to-back threes by Kevin Shay and Tony Borghese tied the score, while Gibbs hit the first of two free throws to put the Cardinals ahead.

Porambo tried to rally the Blue Jays, connecting on a three to put Elizabethtown back up 74-72, but Otterbein had all the momentum of a downhill bullet train. The Cardinals scored the next 16 points and the game was decided by the final television timeout.

Shay led all scorers with 29 points. He hit 10 of 20 shots from the field, including 4 of 9 from three. He led the Cards’ second half charge, hitting 5 of 6 shots (4 of 5 threes) in tallying 19 points in the second stanza. Shay was named to the all-tournament team.

Gibbs dumped in 25 points and ripped down 25 rebounds to record his 30th double-double of the season. His 25 boards set a new career high and shattered two Final Four records: rebounds in a Final Four game (previously 18) and rebounds in a Final Four series (40 rebounds over two games, previously 30). Gibbs was named most outstanding player of the tournament.

Borghese hit for 21 points, including 17 in the second half. He connected on 11 of 14 free throws on the night, while also handing out eight assists.

Coming off the bench, Ross hit 4 of 6 three-pointers to finish with 12 points. Walton finished with seven points and five assists in 17 minutes.

For the game, Otterbein hit 11 of 24 three-pointers, 46 percent, and held a 25-14 advantage at the foul line.

Porambo and Brian Loftus finished with 17 points apiece to pace the Blue Jays.

Elizabethtown finishes the season 29-3.

Otterbein closes its season 30-3, tying the 1991 Final Four team’s school record for wins in a season. The Cardinals won their final 13 games and 19 of their final 20. Otterbein is now 3-3 all-time in the Final Four, finishing fourth in 1981 and third in 1991.