WESTERVILLE, Ohio – Behind career-highs from junior guard Luke Schaefer (Medina) and senior forward Alex Nahra (Mayfield), the Baldwin Wallace University men's basketball team defeated Otterbein University, 76-68 inside the Riker Center.
BW (8-5, 4-2 Ohio Athletic Conference) was led by Schaefer's career-best 29 points, 66 percent shooting, and Nahra's 19 points off the bench. Freshman guard Anthony Mazzeo (North Canton/Massillon Jackson) poured in 11 points and sank 3-of-5 shots from deep. Senior two-time Academic All-OAC guard Michael Quiring (Brunswick) led the game with four assists and added seven points. Senior forward Drew Sova (Chagrin Falls/Kenston) grabbed a game-high eight rebounds and threw in five.
Otterbein (4-9 overall, 1-5 OAC) was led by junior guard Mo Beavers who had a game-high tying 29 points. Freshman guard Dallas Patrick contributed 19.
BW improves to 59-55 in the all-time series with Otterbein. In the last contest BW won in Westerville, 82-62. The Yellow Jackets shot 56% to the Cardinals 39%, and had 19 more bench points.
Otterbein opened the game with a 10-2 run over the 4:19. The Yellow Jackets responded with a 14-6 spurt to tie the game up at 16 with 7:30 left in the first half. BW closed the half with a 14-9 run and went into intermission with a 30-25 advantage.
The Yellow Jackets established their first double-digit lead of 43-33 at 14:24 with a 13-8 spurt to start the second half. The Cardinals trimmed the lead to 51-47 at 9:24 with a 14-8 run. BW extended the lead back to double-digits with an 8-2 run, bringing the score to 59-49 with 6:08 left in regulation. Otterbein cut the lead to 61-57 at 3:43 with an 8-2 run. The lead got pushed back to 73-63 with 17 seconds left, after a 12-6 run for the Yellow Jackets. BW held off the Cardinals and walked away with its fourth conference victory.
The Yellow Jackets are on the road next against Ohio Northern University on Wednesday January, 15 at 7 p.m. BW returns to Berea on Saturday January, 18 for an OAC contest with Wilmington College.
