Mike DeWitt
Paul Vernon

Bishops Down Denison, DeWitt Records 400th Career Victory

2/11/2021 9:15:00 PM

Box Score
Ohio Wesleyan 50, Denison 45

Freshman wing Tony Carter (Cleveland/Parma Heights Holy Name) hit a lay-in, sophomore post Grant Spicer (Cincinnati/Lakota East) added a bucket, and sophomore guard Jack Clement (Bellefontaine) sank 2 free throws as Ohio Wesleyan broke a 36-36 tie and went on to a 50-45 win over Denison on Thursday at Branch Rickey Arena.

The win was the 400th career victory for Ohio Wesleyan head coach Mike DeWitt.  DeWitt is 400-300 (.571) in 27 seasons as a head coach, and is 350-225 (.609) in 22 seasons at Ohio Wesleyan.

"This is a sign of having a lot of really good players and really good assistant coaches over the years," DeWitt said.  "Anytime you reach a milestone like that, it's a collective effort.  I've been able to coach a lot of great players and work with a lot of great assistant coaches."

Denison took an early lead on Conor Fenton's jumper from the lane, but the Bishops reeled off the next 12 points, collecting 2 lay-ins from junior guard Zane Ries (Barberton) and a pair of hoops from Clement along the way.  Ohio Wesleyan would lead by as many as a dozen, that coming when a Ries lay-in gave the Bishops an 18-6 lead with 6:41 left in the first half.

The Big Red rallied late in the first half, closing to within 21-17 as Freeman Brou had a pair of lay-ins and a pair of free throws during an 8-1 run, and the visitors came all the way back when a pair of Brou free throws evened the score at 34 midway through the second period.

Carter's lay-in gave Ohio Wesleyan a 38-36 lead with 7:34 to go, and the lay-in by Spicer and the free throws from Clement extended the lead to 42-36 at the 5:07 mark.

Spicer staked the Bishops to a 48-41 advantage with 2:23 remaining, but Will Hunter rallied the visitors, driving for a lay-in, then stealing the ball and scoring on the break to make it a 48-45 game with 1:08 left.

White sank a pair of free throws with :18 left to make it a 2-possession game, and Brou misfired on a 3-pointer at the other end, with Spicer clearing the rebound to seal the outcome.

Clement led the Bishops with 22 points, while Ries finished with 12.  Spicer grabbed a team-high 10 rebounds.

Brou scored 25 points for Denison.

Box Score
 
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