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 bal