Box Score
Ohio Wesleyan 88, Hiram 61

Senior guard Taylor Rieger (Lewis Center/Olentangy Orange) collected 15 points and 4 assists during the first half as 17th-ranked Ohio Wesleyan turned in one of its best halves of the season on the way to a win over Hiram in North Coast Athletic Conference action on Saturday at Branch Rickey Arena.

Hiram had closed to within 5-4 on a lay-in by Aaron Stefanov with 16:49 left in the first half, but the Bishops would seize command of the contest with a 19-2 outburst.  Rieger had a pair of free throws, a lay-in, and a 3-pointer to get things started, while freshman guard Seth Clark (Lewis Center/Olentangy) added a pair of hoops, sophomore post Claude Gray (Avon) had a bucket, and Rieger hit the second of 2 free throws.  Junior wing Nick Felhaber (Holland/Toledo St. John's) finished off the Bishop run with a 3-pointer that made it 24-6 with 10:45 left in the period.

The Terriers were still within 29-13 when Ohio Wesleyan assembled an 18-2 run that saw a jumper and a 3-pointer from sophomore post Matt Jeske (Glen Ellyn, Ill./Glenbard South), a Rieger 3-pointer, and a pair of Gray free throws before lay-ins by senior wing Dre White (Lima/Bath), Rieger, and senior post Reuel Rogers (Columbus/Bexley) gave the Bishops a 47-15 lead with less than a minute to play.

During the half, Ohio Wesleyan made 19 of 31 field goal attempts for a sizzling .613 from the field.  Meanwhile, on the other end of the court, the Bishops held the potent Terrier offense -- which was atop the NCAC coming into the game -- to 17 points on 8-for-35 (.229) shooting.

A Kyle Deckard 3-pointer and a pair of Stefanov baskets helped the Hiram offense start to click early in the second half, but the visitors would not come closer than 25 points during the remainder of the contest.

Rieger led the Bishops with 23 points and 5 assists.  Gray added 12 points and grabbed a team-high 9 rebounds, and Jeske scored 11 points.

Ray Gaston led Hiram with 13 points.

Box Score