Box Score
Ohio Wesleyan 69, Wabash 65
Senior guard Joey Duke (Marysville) sank a pair of free throws to put Ohio Wesleyan ahead to stay, and the Bishops went on to defeat Wabash in North Coast Athletic Conference action on Wednesday at Branch Rickey Arena.
Duke's free throws broke a 52-52 tie and junior wing David Rice (Cleveland/Parma Padua Franciscan) followed with a lay-in to give the Bishops a 56-52 lead with 7:04 remaining.
Wabash's Vinny Buccilla split a pair of free throws on the Little Giants' next possession to make it a 56-53 game, and from there, the teams essentially traded points and stops, with Wabash scoring to close within 1 point before Ohio Wesleyan would answer with a score to take either a 3- or 4-point lead.
The Little Giants closed to within 65-64 on Buccilla's jumper with :49 left in regulation time, but junior guard Henry Hinkle (Powell/Olentangy Liberty) countered with a jumper on the other end to restore the 3-point lead.
Looking for the tie, Wabash missed a pair of 3-pointers and Sam Comer was fouled on the rebound of the second with :04 to go. Comer sank the first free throw and deliberately missed the second, but Hinkle came down with the rebound and sank both free throws for the final 4-point margin.
Wabash opened the game with a pair of Avery Beaver baskets on the way to an 8-2 lead.
Ohio Wesleyan rallied to knot the game at 8 on a lay-in by sophomore wing Jessee Battle (Gahanna/Lincoln), but Wabash responded with a 7-0 burst to open up its biggest lead of the game.
The Bishops pulled even at the half as Battle knocked down a 3-pointer during the final seconds of the period, but the Little Giants would open up a 45-39 lead on a Comer bucket with 12:26 to play.
Duke drove for a lay-in, then Hinkle chalked up 7 consecutive points during a 9-0 spurt as Ohio Wesleyan took a 48-45 lead midway through the half before Duke's free throws put the Bishops ahead to stay.
Hinkle led Ohio Wesleyan with 32 points and 4 assists. Battle added 16 points and senior post Tony Carter (Cleveland/Parma Heights Holy Name) collected 7 rebounds.
Box Score
