DELAWARE, Ohio - December 7, 2019 – Despite a hot start, Hiram Terriers men's basketball fell to the Ohio Wesleyan Battling Bishops, 68-60, on Saturday at Branch Rickey Arena.

After Tyler McMillion scored the opening bucket of the game for the Terriers, Hiram scored eight of the next 10 points to take a 10-2 lead over OWU three minutes into the first half.

The Terriers led by seven, 17-10, with just over 14 minutes left in the half, before both teams went cold for a three-minute stretch. OWU's Grant Gossard's layup broke the drought, and the Battling Bishops closed the Terriers' lead to just two over the next three minutes, before taking a 23-22 lead with 7:01 to play in the first half.

Hiram and OWU stood tied three times over the final five minutes, but the Battling Bishops ended the half on a 7-4 run to take a 35-32 lead into the half.

The Battling Bishops extended their lead to six early on in the second half, but the Terriers answered with a 7-0 run to take a 43-42 lead.

The two sides traded leads over the next few minutes, and again stood tied at 49 with 10:11 to play. However, a quick 5-0 run gave the Battling Bishops a five-point lead they'd never relinquish.

McMillion brought the Terriers to within two with a dunk with just over four minutes to play, but OWU answered with a 7-2 run to pull ahead by seven, eventually finishing off the 68-60 victory with two clutch, three-pointers in the final minute.

Hiram drops to 3-5 (1-2 NCAC) with the loss, while OWU moves to 5-2 (1-1 NCAC) with the win.

Sherman Dean III led the Terriers with a game-high 17 points. Brodgie Gordon joined Dean III in double-figures with 14, while Antonio McQueen added six points and eight rebounds.

Hiram shot a perfect 18-for-18 from the free throw line, but just 30.6 percent from the field. The game featured nine ties and five lead changes.

The Terriers are back in action on Saturday, Dec. 14 when they travel to Angola, Ind. to take on Trine University in the Trine Classic at 3:00 p.m.