BEREA, OHIO -- Freshman forward Kyle Payne (Brunswick) scored a career-high 19 points and grabbed five rebounds as the Baldwin Wallace University men's basketball team defeated Bethany (W. Va) College, 76-71, tonight (Thursday, November 18, 2010) in the Rudolph Ursprung Gymnasium in the Lou Higgins Center in Berea. This was BW's home opener.
Payne was joined in double figures for the Yellow Jackets, now 1-1 overall, by senior guard Zane Meeder (Erie, Pa./Fairview), who scored scored 15 of 18 points in the second half on a career-high four of five from three-point range, and sophomore forward Chris Ameen (Broadview Heights/ Walsh Jesuit) had 16 points and a game-high eight rebounds. Junior point guard Promis Cabbil (Elyria/Senior) added 10 points and six rebounds. The Bisons, now 1-1 overall, were led by junior forward British Alexander with 18 points and six rebounds.
In the first half, the Yellow Jackets scored the first points of the home season on a layup from Ameen off the assist from sophomore guard Brandon Schmidt (Wellington) just 39 seconds in the first half to take an early 2-0 lead. Then, after Bethany tied the game at 2-2, Payne and Ameen sparked a BW a 12-2 run to take an early 14-4 lead.
The Bisons responded with a 14-4 run of their own to tie the game at 18-18 on a deep three-pointer by sophomore guard Reece Mabery with 9:49 remaining. The game was tied three more times with the last coming at 24-24 at 7:37 before Bethany took its first lead of the game at 27-26 on a three-pointer by senior guard Dustin Opalka at 6:52. The Bisons increased their lead to as many as six points, at 39-33, at the intermission.
In the first stanza, the Yellow Jackets were led by Payne with 12 points and Ameen with 11 and freshman center Aaron Selmek (Delaware/ Columbus St. Francis DeSales) pulled down a first-half high four rebounds. Bethany was led by senior forward Ryan McFadden and Opalka with nine points apiece.
In the second half, BW cut into the lead several times and got it to one point, at 45-44, on a reverse layup by Meeder at the 14:43 mark. The Yellow Jackets regained the lead 48-47 on a three-pointer from Meeder with 12:55 remaining. BW extended the lead to 51-47 on the first collegiate three-pointer for freshman guard Kevin Krakowiak (Valley City/ Parma Heights Holy Name) at 11:41.
The Bisons outscored the Yellow Jackets 11-6 to regain the lead, 58-57 on a fast break layup by senior guard Ray Gardner at 7:34. BW quickly took back the lead at 59-58 on a pair of free throws from junior guard Scott Voiers (Westlake/ Lutheran West) at 7:06. The Yellow Jackets extended their lead to a second half-high eight points after a three-pointer from Schmidt at 5:10. Bethany cut the lead down to one point, at 68-67, on a three-point play by sophomore forward Nick Wilcox at 2:18. BW outscored the Bisons 8-4 over the remainder of the contest, including four straight foul shots, to secure its first win of the season.
Overall, the Yellow Jackets outrebounded Bethany, 44-23, including a 12-5 advantage on the offensive boards. BW also canned 25-of-29 foul shots for 86.2 percent compared to just 10-of-14 for the visitors. That offset 20 Yellow Jacket turnovers.
The Yellow Jackets are back in action on Tuesday, Nov. 23 when they travel to Geneva, Pennsylvania for a 7:30 p.m. non-league game versus the Golden Tornadoes of Geneva College. The next home game is on Sunday, Nov. 28 against traditional rival Hiram College in the Rudolph Ursprung Gymnasium inside the Lou Higgins Center at 7:00 p.m. The first Ohio Athletic Conference game is on Wednesday, December 1 when BW hosts Heidelberg University at 7:30 p.m.
Media and fans can listen LIVE to all Yellow Jacket men's and women's basketball games on campus radio station WBW, 88.3 FM and via the Internet at www.wBW.com.
In addition, two Yellow Jacket women's and men's basketball doubleheaders will be telecast on SportsTime Ohio this winter. The games are the January 29, 2011 twinbill versus Wilmington College and the Third Annual Take a Kid to the Game Day doubleheader versus Ohio Northern University on February 19, 2011.
FOR MORE SPORTS INFORMATION, please contact Sports Information Director Kevin Ruple by telephone at 440-826-2327 and e-mail at kruple@bw.edu or Assistant SID Jeff Miller by phone at 440-826-2780 and email at jefmille@bw.edu. Fans can access the latest BW athletics information at www.BWyellowjackets.com and we invite you to join us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/bwyellowjackets and Twitter at http://twitter.com/bwathletics.
