DELAWARE, Ohio – The Ohio Wesleyan University men's basketball team (1-0) opened the 2026-27 season with a 52-46 win over Ohio Northern (1-1) on Wednesday night at Branch Rickey Arena. The win marks the first time the Battling Bishops have defeated the Polar Bears since November 26, 1994, ending an eight-game losing streak in the series.
Jake Lowman started the night off right, cashing a three-pointer on OWU's first shot attempt just 17 seconds into the new season. He would contribute nine points in the first half, all threes, going 3-for-4.
Ohio Northern grabbed a double-digit lead towards the midway point of the first half, stringing together an 8-0 run to move ahead 19-9. Immediately afterwards, a pair of three-pointers by Lowman and Matt Jirmasek alongside a bucket by
Carson Murphy cut the Polar Bear lead back down to two at 19-17.
Ohio Wesleyan stuck within six points of Ohio Northern for the final 10 minutes before the break. The Battling Bishops tied the game up 25-25 heading into halftime thanks to Lowman's third made three of the half.
The Red and Black came out of the break and took a six-point lead thanks to a three and a pair of layups by
Quinn Hart. Ohio Northern narrowed the difference back down to one with 8:15 remaining, but it took just four minutes for the Bishops to build up to their largest lead of the night, up nine with 4:15 to play after a pair of free throws by
James McCarthy.
OWU kept the advantage around six points for the remainder of the game. Lowman and McCarthy came up with a block and a steal on ONU's second-to-last possession to all but seal the win, eventually culminating in a pair of makes by Hart at the charity stripe to take the final tally to 52-46.
THE NUMBERS
Ohio Wesleyan had the better night from the field, outshooting Ohio Northern 36.2%-29.1% overall and 33.3%-14.8% from three-point range. The Bishops lost the rebounding battle 43-29.
Jake Lowman finished with a game-high 17 points, two short of his career high, shooting 6-of-12 from the field and 4-of-7 from three. He also had eight rebounds, three steals, three assists, and two blocks.
Quinn Hart tied his career high of 15 points, shooting 5-of-12 and knocking down two threes alongside three steals and two rebounds.
Kevin Gallagher and
Carson Murphy both finished with five points. Gallagher added two rebounds, two assists, and two steals.
Cal Klinzing and
Anthony Mordini were the second- and third-leading rebounders for the Bishops with six and four respectively. Mordini also nabbed a pair of blocks and dished out three assists. Klinzing finished with two assists and one steal.
Freshmen
Matty Jirmasek and
Jayden Carlton both knocked down a three in their debuts for the Red and Black. Fellow first-year
Matt Brett pulled down three rebounds in his first appearance on a college court.
UP NEXT
The Battling Bishops head to Berea on Saturday to face Baldwin Wallace. Tipoff is scheduled for 5 p.m.
