WILMINGTON, Ohio - Ohio Northern University (ONU) used a 44-28 edge in points in the paint earn a 76-64 Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) victory over the Wilmington College men's basketball team at Fred Raizk Arena on Wednesday evening.
The entire first half was played within a seven-point window with the Quakers' largest lead being a single point on multiple occasions and the Polar Bears' taking a six-point advantage (32-26) on a Landen Long jumper with 1:11 to play in the half. That score proved to be close to the final score as a Lucas Doty free throw would be the final point of the first 20 minutes and send the host into the locker room down five.
Unfortunately for WC, the Quakers would not regain the lead the rest of the game. After the two sides exchanged baskets to open the second half, the Polar Bears opened up a double-digit lead with an 11-4 run to make the score 45-34 with 14:25 remaining. ONU would lead by as many as 15 and not trail by less than 10 the rest of the way.
ONU finished the game 28-of-60 (46.7 percent) for the game and won the rebounding battle 42-35. WC finished 23-of-63 (36.5 percent) while both sides made exactly six triples. Individually, four Polar Bears - C.J. Napier, Adam Scott, Will Miller and Long - finished in double figures with Napier tallying a game-high 18 points. For Wilmington, Bryce Bird poured in 17 points while Obed Achirem had 14 points, 13 rebounds, five steals and two blocks. Jayden Lewis added 11 points on 5-of-9 shooting off the bench.
Wilmington (3-4, 0-2 OAC) hosts Heidelberg University for a 2 p.m. contest on Saturday.
