ADA — Ohio Northern University erased a 10-point deficit in the final eight minutes and hit a game-winning basket in the final minute to slip by the Wilmington College men’s basketball team 62-61 in Ohio Athletic Conference action Saturday evening.
The WC loss puts the Quakers at 0-2 to start the season. On Friday, Wilmington was defeated 95-86.
In the Saturday game, the Fightin’ Quakers jumped out to an 11-2 lead in the first three minutes thanks to three-pointers from Jalen Horton, Jeffery Mansfield and Matt Smith. The Polar Bears seemed to settle down defensively after that, holding Wilmington to just a Bilal Sow basket over the next six minutes. Consecutive baskets from Jayden Lewis and Mansfield broke a 13-13 tie midway through the half.
Neither squad led by more than a possession for seven minutes until a Hunter Ruckel three with three minutes to play put Wilmington ahead 31-25. ONU would answer with the final two baskets of the half, 31-29.
The second half began similarly to the first as the Quakers scored the first seven points of the session – four from Mansfield and three from Horton – to stretch the lead to nine. Wilmington led by as many as 10, but ONU kept within striking distance and got within a possession, 52-50, on two free throws at the 5:35 mark. The teams traded baskets until C.J. Napier scored consecutive baskets to put the hosts on top 62-61 with 39 seconds left.
A Wilmington turnover forced the Quakers to foul, but Napier missed the front end of a one-and-one with seven seconds to play. The Polar Bears, who were called for just a single foul in the first 19:50 of the half, had plenty of fouls to give. After two fouls on purpose, Mansfield drove into the lane in the final seconds, but couldn’t deliver the game-winner.
Despite that, Mansfield led all scorers with 22 points on 9-of-14 shooting to go along with six rebounds and six assists. Sow added nine points and six boards off the bench while Jackson Todd grabbed a team-high nine rebounds.
Wilmington (0-2) returns to action next weekend against Muskingum University.
On Friday, the OAC 2021 lidlifter was marred by 49 personal fouls called. The teams were a combined 45 for 68 from the free throw line.
Mansfield led Wilmington with 21 points and eight assists. Matt Smith had 10 points.
The Polar Bears scored 52 points in the paint and had a 21-6 advantage on fast break points.
The Quakers bench scored 43 points with Ruckel leading the way with 11 points.
SUMMARY
Jan 23, 2021
@Ohio Northern University
Ohio Northern 62 Wilmington 61
ON^29^33^^62
WC^31^30^^61
(62) OHIO NORTHERN (fg-3fg-ft-tp) Napier 7-0-2-16 Berner 3-0-3-9 Waugh 4-2-2-12 Bennett 1-0-0-2 Long 2-2-0-6 Unruh 3-1-2-9 Scott 1-0-0-2 Heilerman 3-0-0-6. TOTALS 24-5-9-62
(61) WILMINGTON (fg-3fg-ft-tp) Dado 1-0-0-2 Mansfield 9-4-0-22 Horton 3-2-0-8 Todd 2-0-0-4 M. Smith 3-1-0-7 Klein 0-0-0-0 Mihalick 0-0-0-0 Clark 0-0-0-0 Larkin 0-0-0-0 Lewis 1-0-0-2 Ruckel 2-01-0-5 Aaron 1-0-0-2 Sow 4-1-0-9 Cox 0-0-0-0 TOTALS 26-9-0-61
–
Jan 22, 2021
@Fred Raizk Arena
Ohio Northern 95 Wilmington 86
ON^54^41^^95
WC^49^37^^86
(95) OHIO NORTHERN (fg-3fg-ft-tp) Napier 7-0-10-24 Berner 8-0-1-17 Waugh 6-2-9-23 Bennett 1-0-0-2 Long 5-2-5-17 Scot 4-0-2-10 Heilerman 1-0-0-2 Koebel 0-0-0-0 Unruh 0-0-0-0 TOTALS 32-4-27-95
(86) WILMINGTON (fg-3fg-ft-tp) Cox 1-0-0-2 Mansfield 7-0-7-21 Horton 0-0-0-0 Todd 3-1-3-10 Smith 4-0-2-10 Ruckel 3-3-2-11 Dado 4-0-2-10 Aaron 1-1-2-5 Clark 2-0-0-4 Mihalick 1-1-0-3 Kluth 0-0-0-0 Sow 3-2-0-8 Caudill 0-0-0-0 Kline 0-0-0-0 Mitchell 1-0-0-2 Lewis 0-0-0-0 TOTALS 30-6-18-86
