Quakers fall to Otterbein 74-67

Deon Short scores a career-high 35 points in loss

[Box Score]

(WC Press Release) Westerville, Ohio (February 18, 2004) -- The Wilmington College Quakers fell to Otterbein College, despite a career-high 35 points from Deon Short (Cincinnati/Mercy).

The Quakers and Cardinals started the game fighting back and forth before the visiting Green and White opened a 20-5 run to open a 12-point lead with 4:33 to play in the first half. The Quakers were unable to find the bottom of the net for the rest of the half, as the Cardinals ended the period on a 16-0 run, opening a four-point halftime lead.

In the second half Otterbein opened the lead to eight points before the Quakers fought back and took a two-point lead with 15:30 to play in the half. Otterbein increased their lead to as many as eight with three minutes to play, before the Cardinals hit 9-of-10 free throws down the stretch to claim the seven-point win.

Short scored his 35 points on 14-of-20 shooting from the field along with 3-of-4 from three-point range and 4-of-5 from the charity stripe. David Guy (Webb City, MO/Webb City) and Tyran Thompson (Middletown/Middletown) each scored 11. Guy and B.J. Gordon (Toledo/Scott) each pulled down five rebounds to lead the team while Thompson dished out four assists.

Otterbein was led by DeQuan Owens who scored 17 points while Scott Hadley scored 16 and Aaron Minister chipped in 10. Minister pulled down a game-high eight rebounds while Tony Borghese and Minister each dished out four assists.

With the loss the Quakers fall to 1-23 on the season and 1-16 in league play while Otterbein improves to 18-6 overall and 12-5 in the OAC.

The next game for the Green and White is on Saturday, February 21 when the team travels north to Tiffin, Ohio to face off against the Student Princes of Heidelberg College with tip-off set for 3:00 p.m.