DELAWARE, Ohio - December 6, 2023 - The backcourt duo of Trent Jakacki and Manuel Devora Violan combined for 51 points in Hiram's 98-90 loss to Ohio Wesleyan on Wednesday evening at Branch Rickey Arena.

Jakacki finished with 29 points, his second-most points in a game this season. Devora Violan's 22 points were his second-most in a career game.

Despite the loss, the Terriers outscored the Battling Bishops in the second half, 53-49, and shot 62% from the field during that span. Hiram won the head-to-head battle in bench points (24-17) and points in the paint (40-36).

Ohio Wesleyan did a good job of setting the tone early, jumping out to a 22-9 lead through the first eight minutes of the game. The home team never trailed in the conference matchup.

Devora Violan made his mark in the first half, scoring 15 of his 22 points and making all six of his free throws. Hiram went on an 11-5 run over the final 2:48 of the period to trim the margin to 12 at the half.

The Terriers would cut closer into the deficit in the second half, with a Mitchell Wiechecki three-pointer making it an eight-point game with 15:46 remaining. Wiechecki totaled a career-high 7 points in 16 minutes of action.

Ohio Wesleyan would respond with a pair of three-pointers and keep hold of a double-digit lead for a majority of the second half. Henry Hinkle led all student-athletes in the game with 33 points.

Hiram would get back to within single digits in the final two minutes thanks to a flurry of made shots from Jakacki, who scored or assisted on 24 points in the second half alone. Freshman Tristan Martin-Marshall had a career-high 11 points off the bench, including a late three-pointer, but OWU held on for the win.

The Terriers will look to get back in the win column on Saturday, when it hosts Kenyon at 2 p.m. inside Price Gymnasium in Hiram, Ohio.