NEW CONCORD, OH – Three players scored in double figures as the Wilmington College men's basketball team defeated Muskingum Wednesday, 84-74, in Ohio Athletic Conference action at the Muskingum Recreation Center.

"Anytime you can get a win on the road, it's a good win," said Wilmington head coach K.C. Hunt. "We didn't play that great, but you have to give their kids credit – they came out and played hard. It was a tough game for us. Coming off an emotional loss, and playing a team you beat pretty soundly at home, I thought our guys showed some courage and guts in the face of adversity."

The main adverse situation centered around the league's leading scorer and rebounder, Malcolm Heard II (Wilmington, OH/Wilmington). The senior forward went to the bench just two minutes into the game with two fouls. With Heard saddled with foul trouble, junior R.J. Leppert (Liberty Township, OH/Lakota East) carried a bulk of the offensive load in the first half. He scored 13 of his team-high 20 points in the opening 20 minutes.

Most importantly for Wilmington, they returned to their defensive roots.

"We defended very well tonight," said Hunt. "Other than bailing them out with some fouls, we played defense pretty good today."

After building a five-point lead in the first half, Wilmington quickly opened up a double-figure lead and kept its cushion around 10 points for the remainder of the game.

Junior Dwight Johnson (Dayton, OH/Jefferson) came off the bench for the first time this season to add 15 points, while senior Klarke Ransome (Richwood, OH/North Union) added 12 points.

Wilmington (11-6 overall, 8-3 OAC) returns home 3 p.m. Saturday to host Heidelberg.