Ohio Wesleyan University Athletics

Ohio Wesleyan 92, Scranton 70

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich -- You will not soon find Scott Tedder's name on the front of any supermarket tabloids, making predictions for the coming year.

But as far as Ohio Wesleyan fans are concerned, Tedder ranks right up there with Kreskin, Jeane Dixon and all the rest. At the team's 1987 postseason banquet, Tedder promised his teammates they would win the national championship the next year. "I was half-joking," Tedder said later. "But the Delaware Gazette had it in big headlines: 'Tedder promises national championship.'"

And he delivered, scoring 15 first-half points, as the Bishops defeated Scranton to win the school's first-ever national championship. 

Senior baseline Lee Rowlinson added 13 first-half points and senior guard Mike Smith contributed 12 points as Ohio Wesleyan opened up a 20-point lead.

The Royals took an early 4-2 advantage on baskets by Art Trippett and Shawn Gallagher, but Smith hit back-to-back 3-pointers that put Ohio Wesleyan ahead to stay.

Rowlinson and senior baseline Chris Truskowski followed with baskets to cap a 10-0 run, and Tedder added a lay-in and a 3-pointer to extend the Bishop lead to 17-6 at the 12:32 mark of the first half.

Scranton rallied to within 19-13 on a 3-pointer by Trippett just before the midway point of the period, but Ohio Wesleyan responded with a 12-0 run -- with Tedder and Rowlinson combining for all 12 points -- and took a 35-15 lead on consecutive Rowlinson baskets with just under 6 minutes remaining.

Gallagher fueled a 10-0 run early in the second half, scoring 3 baskets that helped Scranton close to within 66-54 with 13:47 left in regulation time, and the Royals were as close as 10 points midway through the half, but Truskowski scored 6 points during a 15-6 burst that pushed the lead back to 19 points with less than 6 minutes to go.

Tedder led the Bishops with 27 points, while Rowlinson added 22 points and a game-high 11 rebounds, Smith collected 18 points and led the Bishops with 8 assists, and senior wing Casey Lee finished with 10 points.

Trippett led Scranton with 20 points, J.P. Andrejko scored 17 points, and Gallagher added 12 points.

"We had never won one (a national championship) before tonight, and everything hasn't quite sunk in yet," said Ohio Wesleyan coach Gene Mehaffey.  "It's just great...it's the biggest thrill I've ever had, and it's something that we will never forget.

"We've been so determined.  We became even more determined to win it (the national championship) after we lost by one point at Heidelberg on the last day of the regular season.

"It's been a complete team effort all season, and tonight was no different."

Tedder was named the Most Outstanding Player of the championship.  He was joined by Rowlinson on the all-tournament team.