Will Face No. 6 Seed Mount Union on Wednesday in the OAC Tourny
BEREA, OHIO - Tony Borghese scored 24 points tonight as second place Otterbein College upset first place Baldwin-Wallace College, 86-76, in a key Ohio Athletic Conference game at the Rike Center in Westerville. It was the final game of the regular season for both teams. The 2004 OAC Tournament begins on Monday.
With its victory, Otterbein improves to 19-6 overall and 13-5 in the OAC and is tied with B-W for second place in the OAC. The Cardinals beat B-W both times the two teams met this year. With its loss, B-W dropped to 18-7 overall and 13-5 in the OAC.
In addition to Borghese, DeQuan Owens scored 16 points for the Cardinals. Thad Davis (Elyria/ Open Door) led the Yellow Jackets with 23 points. He was joined in double figures by Keith Aufmuth (Cleveland/ Brooklyn), who had 22 points, and Matt Marks (Boardman) with 13.
In the first half, Otterbein led by as many as nine points at 50-41 with :02 remaining, which also was the score at intermission. In the second half, Otterbein led by as many as 11 points before B-W tied it at 63 with 7:59 left. The Yellow Jackets would battle back to take a two-point lead thanks to a free-throw by Aufmuth as part of a three-point play with 10:30 left to go in the game.
Both teams would exchange leads two more times before Otterbein would take the lead for good off of a layup by Phil Susi with 7:11 remaining in the game. Otterbein would extend its lead to as many as 12 points en route to a 86-76 win over B-W.
With his 23 points today, Thad Davis now has 1,332 career points and is13th on the all-time Yellow Jacket scoring list.
The Yellow Jackets have earned a bye in the first round of the OAC tourney on Monday and will host Mount Union on Wednesday at home at 7:30 p.m.
FOR MORE B-W SPORTS INFORMATION, please contact B-W Sports Information Director Kevin Ruple by telephone at 440-826-2327, by FAX machine at 440-826-2329 or via e-mail at kruple@bw.edu.
Game Notes vs. Otterbein
The BALDWIN-WALLACE COLLEGE YELLOW JACKET men's basketball team will travel to Westerville, Ohio to play Ohio Athletic Conference rival Otterbein College on Saturday, February 21, 2004 in the final regular season game. Game time at the Rike Center is 7:30 p.m.
RADIO -- All away and some select home B-W men's basketball games are broadcast on campus radio station WBWC, 88.3 FM, and on the College Internet Web Site. Tonight's game will be broadcast by WBWC. The pregame show from Westerville will begin at 7:15 p.m.
| BALDWIN-WALLACE COLLEGE | OTTERBEIN COLLEGE |
| LOCATION : Berea, Ohio | LOCATION: Westerville, Ohio |
| NICKNAME: Yellow Jackets | NICKNAME: Cardinals |
| CONFERENCE: Ohio Athletic |
CONFERENCE: Ohio Athletic |
| 2003-2004 RECORD: 18-6 | 2003-2004 RECORD: 18-6 |
| OAC RECORD: 13-4 | OAC RECORD: 12-5 |
| HEAD COACH: Steve Bankson | HEAD COACH: Dick Reynolds |
| B-W RECORD: 345-288 | OC RECORD: 564-306 |
| YEAR AT B-W: 24th | YEAR AT OC : 32nd |
| CAREER RECORD: 40 yrs./ 626-402 | CAREER RECORD: same |
| LAST MEETING: OC won, 66-63, on 2/6/2003 in Berea |
SERIES STREAK: OC, one |
| SERIES BEGAN: n/a | SERIES RECORD: OC leads, 47-34 |
| NEXT GAME: Feb. 25: HOST OAC TRNY. GAME/ SECOND ROUND; 7:30 P.M. |
The Pregame Notes -- The Baldwin-Wallace College men's basketball team will look to get back on the winning track when they travel to Westerville to play Otterbein College in the final game of the Ohio Athletic Conference regular season. First place is on the line for B-W. With a win, B-W would clinch at least a tie for the OAC regular season title -- its first since 1978-79.
The Yellow Jackets enter this game with a 18-6 overall and 13-4 OAC record following their 66-63 lost against John Carroll University on Wednesday in University Heights. The lost snapped a season-high nine-game winning streak for B-W.
Otterbein enters this game with an 18-6 overall and 12-5 OAC record following its 74-67 win against Wilmington College on Wednesday in Westerville. The Cardinals have won four straight games and five of their last six overall.
The Current OAC Standings -- B-W is tied for first place with John Carroll at 13-4. Otterbein College and Ohio Northern are tied for third at 12-5. Capital is fifth at 11-6.
The All-Time Baldwin-Wallace Versus Otterbein All-Time Series-- This is the 81st all-time meeting between Baldwin-Wallace College and Otterbein College in men's basketball. Otterbein leads the series, 47-34, including a 66-63 victory earlier this season on December 6, 2003 in Berea. B-W's last win versus Otterbein was a 76-72 victory on February 22, 2003 in Berea.
The First Time They Met This Year: Saturday, December 6, 2003 in Berea: Otterbein -- 66, Baldwin-Wallace -- 63-- Otterbein defeated B-W, 66-63, in the first meeting between the two teams this season on December 6, 2003 at the Rudolph Ursprung Gymnasium in Berea. Despite the loss, junior All-OAC forward Thad Davis (Elyria/ Open Door Christian School) led the Yellow Jackets with 20 points and nine rebounds. He was supported in double figures by freshman forward and brother Tori Davis (Elyria/ Open Door) with 15 points and six rebounds and junior point guard Tom Harrington (Brooklyn) with 11 points and six assists. Otterbein placed three players in double digits, led by senior forwards Aaron Minster and Scott Hadley each with 16 points.
The Baldwin-Wallace College Starters -- Look for veteran Yellow Jackets Head Coach Steve Bankson to start 6'3" junior Thad Davis (Elyria/ Open Door Christian School), 6'3" freshman Tori Davis (Elyria/ Open Door Christian School) and 6'5" freshman Matt Marks (Boardman) on the inside. At the point guard will be 5'11" junior Tom Harrington (North Royalton/ Parma Heights Holy Name) and at the wing will be 6'0" sophomore Keith Aufmuth. Thad Davis leads the team in scoring at 19.3 ppg. and leads the OAC in rebounding at 10.6 rpg. Tori Davis is second in scoring and rebounding at 14.8 ppg., rebounding with 7.8 rpg. and leads the OAC with 54blocked shots. Aufmuth is third in scoring at 13.1 ppg and is first with 41 three-pointers. Harrington is scoring 8.5ppg. and tops the OAC with 129assists and has canned 33 treys. Marks is averaging 7.6 ppg. and 2.8 rpg.
Off the bench, look for Bankson to play 6'2" freshman guard Nick Meyer (Mentor), 6'2" sophomore guard/ forward Dan Gundert (Wellington) and 6'4" junior post player Jeremy Coffey (Hudson/Cuyahoga Valley Christian).
The Otterbein College Probable Starters and Preview-- Look for Head Coach Dick Reynolds to play at least nine solid players. He will start 5'11" junior guard Tony Borghese and 6'1" freshman guard DeQuan Owens in the backcourt. At the wings will be 6'5" senior Aaron Minster and 6'5 junior Scott Hadley, and 6'7" sophomore center Tyler Ousley will play at center. Borghese is the top scorer at 13.8 ppg. and tops the team in three-pointers with 69 and assists with 96. He is also shooting 40.2 percent from the floor, 39.2 percent from 3-point range and 90.8% from the foul line. Owens is third in scoring at 11.2 ppg. and has 37 assists. Minster is third at 10.8 ppg., grabs 5.5 rpg. and tops the team with 36 steals. Hadley averages 12.0 ppg. and 6.6 rpg. and has the ability to shoot the trey. Ousley is scoring 6.5 ppg. and grabbing 4.6 rpg.
Off the bench, look for Reynolds to play 6'5" junior forward Neil Hohman, 6'5" senior forward Mo Ross, 6'2" senior guard Kyle Walton and 6'7" senior center Phil Susi. All four average in double figures in minutes per game. Hohman scores 6.2 ppg. and grabs 4.3 rpg. Ross scores 6.1 ppg. and has 37 treys Walton scores 4.4 ppg. and has 39 assists and will add depth in the backcourt. Susi scores 4.0 ppg. and grabs 2.5 rpg.
In B-W's Last Game: John Carroll-- 66, Baldwin-Wallace -- 63, on Wednesday, February 18 in University Heights, Ohio -- The Yellow Jackets were defeated by OAC and Cleveland cross-town rival John Carroll University, 66-63, at the Tony DeCarlo Varsity Center in Universuity Heights on Wednesday night. The loss ended a nine-game B-W win streak and dropped the Yellow Jackets into a tie for first place with the Blue Streaks. Despite the loss, junior All-OAC forward Thad Davis led B-W in scoring with 15 points and had a game-high 14 rebounds. In addition, junior backup forward Jeremy Coffey had 12 points, freshman forward Tori Davis had 11 and freshman backup guard Nick Meyer had 10 markers.
In Otterbein's Last Game: Otterbein --74, Wilmington-- 67 on Wednesday, February 18 in Westerville, Ohio -- The Cardinals improved to 18-6 overall and 12-5 in the OAC with a 74-67 victory against Wilmington College at the Rike Center in Westerville. Leading the Otterbein offense was freshman guard DeQuan Owens with 17 points. He was joined in double figures by senior forwards Scott Hadley with 16 points and Aaron Minister with 10 markers. Minister also led the Cardinals on the boards with eight.
Yellow Jacket Chatter
The OAC Regular Season Title Chase -- The Yellow Jackets have won four OAC regular season titles in their history with the last one coming in 1978-79. A win at Otterbein would clinch at least a title tie.
The Upcoming OAC Tournament -- B-W also needs to beat Otterbein to secure a top two finish during the regular season and the number two seed in the OAC Tournament.
The OAC Tournament begins on Monday, February 23, but B-W has already earned a first round bye and will begin play at home on Wednesday, Feb. 25 at 7:30 p.m. The Men's Final Four is Friday and Saturday, Feb. 27-28.
15 in the Last 16 Years -- B-W has already clinched a 15th season in the last 16 years with a .500 or better record.
Thad Davis is 13th All-Time in Scoring-- Junior All-OAC forward Thad Davis (Elyria/ Open Door) scored 15 points on Wednesday against John Carroll and enters the Otterbein game with 1,309 career points to rank 13th all-time. Next on the list is No. 12 Ron Myers (1977-80) who scored 1,361 career points. His 14 rebounds give him 636 career rebounds which ranks seventh all-time.
The OAC Statistical Leaders -- Thad Davis tops the OAC in rebounding at 10.6 rpg. Younger brother, freshman Tori Davis (Elyria/ Open Door) leads the OAC with 54 blocked shots. Junior point guard Tom Harrington (North Royalton/ Parma Heights Holy Name) leads the OAC with 129 assists.
Double-Doubles -- Thad and Tori Davis have combined for 18 double-doubles of points and rebounds this year. Thad has 11 and Tori seven. Tom Harrington has two double-doubles of points and assists.
Bankson Continues to Climb Win Chart -- Veteran Head Coach Steve Bankson enters the Capital game with at 345 wins at B-W 626 in his career. Bankson is 345-288 in 24 years at B-W and 626-402 in 39 years overall as a head coach at Port Huron (Mich.) High School, 232 at Lorain County Community College and B-W.
Don't Foul Marks and Meyer -- Freshman guard/ forward players Matt Marks (Boardman) and Nick Meyer (Mentor) have combined to connect on 52 of 59 foul shots for 88.1 percent. Marks is 18 of 18 and Meyer is 34 of 41.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, Please visit the Baldwin-Wallace Athletics website at www.bw.edu/athletics for up to date results and statistics. For further inquiries, please contact B-W SID Kevin Ruple by phone at (440) 826-2327, by FAX at (440) 826-2329 or via e-mail at kruple@bw.edu. For more Yellow Jacket men's basketball information, please contact Head Coach Steve Bankson by phone at (440) 826-2039, by FAX at (440) 826-2192 or via e-mail at sbankson@bw.edu.
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