DELAWARE, Ohio – February 12, 2022 – Hiram men's basketball dropped a road North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) matchup at Ohio Wesleyan Saturday afternoon by a score of 79-55.

Out of the gate, Hiram and Ohio Wesleyan exchanged baskets in a back-and-forth affair. After knocking down a three-point shot, Henry Hinkle gave the Battling Bishops the slight 12-9 lead with 13:39 remaining in the first half.

Michael Ewart answered the made three with a layup as the one-possession game ensued at 12-11.

OWU's Tony Carter put in a three-point shot, followed by Curtis White making a layup putting the home team up 19-13 with under ten in the half.

Back-to-back layups from Brodgie Gordon, followed by a Kevin Beans three had Hiram regain the lead down the stretch going up 20-19 with about six minutes to play.

The end of the first half remained back-and-forth with a series of made baskets on both ends. Down 28-24, Ewart made another jumper, putting it back to 28-26 with just over three minutes left in the half.

Jack Clement ended the scoring for OWU, making it four-straight points as the Battling Bishops went into the locker room up 36-30.

Ohio Wesleyan came out of the locker room scoring in a hurry. The Battling Bishops started their double-digit lead after Zane Ries made a three, extending the lead to 45-33.

At about the midway point of the second half, Ivan Yang made a layup, but the OWU lead held strong. A White three-pointer pushed the lead to 62-42 with about eight minutes left in the game.

Closing out the scoring for Hiram, Sherman Cox hit a three and Aaron Broja put in a layup, with the Battling Bishops winning 79-55.

"We played a great first half offensively," said Head Coach Taylor Roth. "Unfortunately we couldn't get into an offensive rhythm and they blew it open. Credit Ohio Wesleyan, they did a great job."

Beans Jr. led the way in scoring with nine points, followed by Gordon and Oliver Clingain having eight. Clingain also led the squad with seven rebounds.

Hiram now sits at 8-15 on the season and 5-11 in the conference following the defeat.

Two games remain for the Terriers in the regular season with games against Kenyon and Oberlin. The team next hits the court on Wednesday, Feb. 16 at Kenyon with tip-off scheduled for 7 p.m.