Box Score Hope 87, Ohio Wesleyan 61Junior post Claude Gray (Avon) hit a 3-pointer and junior post Matt Jeske (Glen Ellyn, Ill./Glenbard South) followed with a basket as 10th-ranked Ohio Wesleyan narrowed an 11-point second-half deficit to just 3, but Hope pulled away to take a non-conference win over the Bishops on Saturday in Holland, Mich.
Hope got on the scoreboard first on Harrison Blackledge's jumper from the lane, but Ohio Wesleyan reeled off the next 11 points, collecting a 3-pointer by freshman guard Nate Axelrod (Dublin/Coffman), a basket and 3 free throws by Gray, and a 3-pointer by senior wing Nick Felhaber (Holland/Toledo St. John's) that gave the Bishops an 11-2 lead just over 4 minutes into the action.
Freshman wing Will Orr (Johnstown/Johnstown-Monroe) hit a 3-pointer and a lay-in to give the Bishops their biggest lead of the game, a 24-13 advantage with 10:54 left in the first half.
The Flying Dutchmen answered with a 12-0 run to take the lead, with Brock Benson scoring 3 buckets and Sam Otto adding 2 more, and the hosts assembled a 10-2 run to close out the first half, with Benson contributing 2 buckets and Otto and Corey McMahon hitting 3-pointers for a 39-32 Hope lead at the intermission.
Ohio Wesleyan trailed, 56-45, when Axelrod hit a 3-pointer. Gray followed with a jumper, Axelrod sank a pair of free throws, and Gray hit a 3-pointer before Jeske's jumper from the lane brought the Bishops within 60-57 with 9:02 left in the game.
Hope countered with a tip-in by Blackledge and a pair of free throws and a 3-pointer from McMahon to stretch the margin to 67-57, and Alex Eidson sank a trio of 3-pointers during a 14-2 Hope run that sealed the outcome.
Axelrod led the Bishops with 18 points and 6 assists. Gray finished with 12 points, and Jeske added 10 points and a team-high 7 rebounds.
Eidson led Hope with 22 points.
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