Box Score
Ohio Northern 87, Ohio Wesleyan 83

Senior post Nick Carlson (Dublin/Coffman) connected on a 3-pointer and freshman guard Henry Hinkle (Powell/Olentangy Liberty) sank a pair of free throws as Ohio Wesleyan narrowed a 7-point deficit to 2 during the final minute, but Ohio Northern held on for a win during the first day of the Smokey Ballenger Classic, hosted by Otterbein University on Wednesday in Westerville.

Otterbein defeated Olivet, 63-60, in the day's second game.  On Thursday, Ohio Wesleyan will face host Otterbein at 7 p.m., to be preceded by Ohio Northern against Olivet at 5 p.m.

Ohio Northern had taken an 84-77 lead on a 3-ponter by Carson Conley with 2:36 left in regulation time.

Junior wing Jack Clement (Bellefontaine) split a pair of free throws on Ohio Wesleyan's ensuing possession, and Carlson followed with a 3-pointer to bring the Bishops within 84-81 with 1:29 to go.  After C.J. Napier split a pair of free throws for the Polar Bears, Hinkle buried a pair from the line to make it an 85-83 game with :53 to go.

The Bishops got the ball back with a chance to take the lead after Ohio Northern's Brandon Waugh was called for an offensive foul with :38 to play, but Carlson's 3-pointer for the lead didn't fall.  Waugh cleared the rebound and was fouled, then split a pair of free throws at the :26 mark to make it a 3-point game.  Hinkle was off the mark on a 3-pointer for the tie with :09 left, and Waugh sank a free throw with :05 to play to provide the final 4-point margin.

Ohio Northern broke an early 2-2 tie with a 15-0 run that included a trio of 3-pointers from Ethan Bell and a Michael Berner jumper that gave the Polar Bears a 17-2 lead just over 4 minutes into the action.

Ohio Wesleyan answered with a 14-0 burst, with Carlson and Clement scoring from the lane, Hinkle connecting twice from downtown, and Clement and sophomore wing Tony Carter (Cleveland/Parma Heights Holy Name) following with hoops to make it a 1-point game.

Clement's jumper with 7:12 left in the first half gave the Bishops their first lead of the game at 27-26, and junior post Grant Spicer (Cincinnati/Lakota East) hit a 3-pointer before Hinkle hit a jumper from the lane for a 32-26 lead, Ohio Wesleyan's biggest advantage of the game.

The Bishops still led, 64-63, after a jumper by senior guard Curtis White (Lawrenceburg, Ind.) midway through the second half, but Ohio Northern took the lead for good on a 3-pointer by Waugh at the 7:16 mark and held the lead throughout the final few minutes.

Clement led the Bishops with 26 points.  Hinkle finished with 19 points and led Ohio Wesleyan with 9 assists, Carlson added 14 points and a team-high 9 rebounds, and Carter scored 10 points.

Waugh scored 23 points for the Polar Bears.

Box Score