Posted: Jan 29, 2020
WILMINGTON, Ohio - The Wilmington College men's basketball team built a 19-point halftime cushion and held at least a double-digit lead for all but 20 seconds in the second half to defeat Ohio Northern University (ONU) 88-69 in an Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) game at Hermann Court on Wednesday evening.
Wilmington never trailed the entire game and led for all but 40 seconds of the contest. The Polar Bears hung around early as the game was tied 13-13 at the 13:42 mark of the first half, but an 8-0 spurt including three points from both Jeffery Mansfield and Matt Smith as well as a layup from Aaron Mullins forced ONU Head Coach Rick Bensman to call timeout. The Polar Bears did convert out of the timeout, but five straight points from Colin Myers and a Jackson Todd layup gave the hosts a 28-15 lead and forced yet another ONU timeout.
The Quakers' defensive effort in the first half did not let up as the Quakers held the Polar Bears to just 27 points and led 46-27 at the break. Wilmington stretched its advantage to a game-high 24 points two minutes into the second half on an Abdul Kanu layup. Trailing 55-31, ONU would answer with a 23-8 run to get within nine (63-54) midway through the half. A quick timeout from Wilmington Head Coach K.C. Hunt Hunt resulted in three straight baskets for the hosts that put the game away.
Wilmington finished 34-of-79 (43.0 percent) from the field along with 10-of-25 (40.0 percent) from beyond the arc. ONU, thanks to a blistering 57.6 percent shooting in the second half, finished the game 31-of-64 (48.4 percent) from the field, but converted only one three-pointer on 13 attempts. Both teams missed just two free throws.
ONU edged Wilmington 42-35 in rebounding, but couldn't overcome 19 turnovers, 13 of which came on Quaker steals.
Individually, CJ Napier led all scorers with 24 points. Thomas Phillips added a double-double with 19 points and 12 rebounds for the Polar Bears in defeat.
Myers led Wilmington with 20 points to go along with three steals and two blocks. Mansfield finished with 19 points and eight rebounds while making a perfect 8-of-8 from the charity stripe. The Wilmington High School alumnus adds to his total that is currently 30 consecutive free throws made.
Kanu (15 points) and DaeShawn Jackson (11 points) also finished in double figues for the Quakers.
Wilmington (7-11, 5-6 OAC), which completed the season sweep of ONU, heads to Heidelberg University for a 3 p.m. game on Saturday.
