WESTERVILLE – For the Wilmington College men's basketball team, the playoffs essentially started Wednesday, and the Fightin' Quakers played with the energy and intensity needed to extend its season into the Ohio Athletic Conference tournament.

Wilmington scored the first 10 points of the game, and never looked back in posting the 87-54 win over Otterbein in OAC action at the Rike Center.

The Fightin' Quakers claims a one-game lead with three to play over Muskingum and Otterbein for the eighth, and final, spot in the OAC tournament. WC essentially owns a two-game advantage over the Cardinals because the swept the season series.

"I thought today's game, especially in the first half, was our most complete performance of the season," said Wilmington head coach K.C. Hunt. "Offensively, we shared the ball and made shots.

"Anytime you can get a win on the road in the OAC, its great," Hunt continued. "We are approaching the final four game as playoffs, and we came out with the edge and intensity level needed in those games."

Wilmington blew the doors off the contest with a 25-7 run to end the first half and took a 29-point lead into the locker room.

Otterbein never got any closer than 27 points in the second half, and the WC lead ballooned to as much as 38 in posting the victory.

Freshman Andrew Russell (Columbus, OH/Central Crossing) led three players in scoring figures with 17 points, while sophomore D.J. Iles (Fayetteville, OH/Fayetteville-Perry) added 16 points with two assists.

"Andrew played great tonight, but we got contributions up and down our roster," said Hunt. "Andrew and D.J. led the way, but we had four to six guys with seven or more points. We made nice strides tonight."

Wilmington (4-16 overall, 3-12 overall) hosts Baldwin Wallace 3 p.m. Saturday in OAC action.