ADA – The Wilmington College men's basketball team refocused themselves in the second half, and was able to record the, 91-80, road victory over Ohio Northern in Ohio Athletic Conference action Wednesday.
"I thought we did a really good job offensively, sharing the ball in the second half," said Wilmington head coach K.C. Hunt. "We played inside/out, getting Malcolm (Heard) and Ben (Vonderhaar) some touches around the basket, and it allowed us to get some open three-pointers. The second half we played with more crispness offensively, and really moved the ball better."
Heard II (Wilmington, OH/Wilmington) finished the game with season-high 28 points and 10 rebounds in just 27 minutes. It's his fourth straight double-double, and he has achieved the feat in five of the last six games. Heard has reached double figure points in 13 straight games, six of which he eclipsed 20 points.
Wilmington got off to a slow start as the Polar Bears scoring nine of the first 11 points. A change in the lineup seemed to allow the Fightin' Quakers to settle in. They chipped away at the lead until the made a run late in the half.
Three straight three-pointers from freshman Law Williams (Dayton, OH/Thurgood Marshall), freshman John Righter (Pataskala, OH/Licking Heights) and junior Klarke Ransome (Richwood, OH/North Union) were part of a run that turned a four-point deficit into a four-point lead.
"John and Law has given us a lot over the last 10 games," said Hunt. "That's been part of the season we have made this run. We have started to figure out our rotation, and tonight's those two played great."
Righter hit all three of his field goal attempts, two from three, in tying a career-high 11 points, while Williams tallied all seven of his points in the first half as WC was looking to establish themselves.
While Wilmington never trailed in the second half, the Polar Bears were able to pull even with a tad of 12 minutes remaining. Heard scored five of WC's 11 points during the game-changing 11-0 spurt. Righter and junior Dwight Johnson (Dayton, OH/Jefferson) each drilled three-pointers during the run.
Ohio Northern got as close as five down the stretch, but could get over the hump.
Johnson and junior R.J. Leppert (Liberty Township, OH/Lakota East) both dished out four assists to lead WC.
Wilmington (10-5 overall, 7-2 OAC) hosts Marietta 3 p.m. Saturday in a crucial Ohio Athletic Conference game. The teams are tied at 7-2 in the league, one game behind leader Mount Union. The Pioneers handed Wilmington its worst loss of the season, a 21-point decision, 98-77, on December 7.