The two teams played relatively even through the first 14 minutes of the game, with neither team leading by more than five points during that span of time. With Otterbein leading 24-22, the Cardinals went on the first "mini-run" of the contest. When Aaron Minister converted a lay-up with 3:24 remaining in the opening period, Otterbein was leading 35-27.
John Carroll rallied back, however, and tied the game just before the end of the half at 38-38 when Jerry Angel made a long three-pointer just as the buzzer sounded.
The game continued to be tightly contested, and was knotted at 47-47 when a strange sequence of events altered the course of the game. Angel picked up his fourth personal foul at the 14:23 mark of the second half, then was given a technical foul shortly afterwards, leading to his exit from the game. Otterbein's Tony Borghese converted three of his four free throw attempts, kicking off a 12-2 run that gave Otterbein a 59-49 lead with 10:25 left in the second period.
JCU answered Otterbein's run with six straight points, and the chase was on. The Blue Streaks eventually caught Otterbein, taking its first lead of the second half when David Gibbons hit a short baseline jumper to put JCU up, 66-65, with 1:50 to play.
The lead then went back-and-forth on the next four possessions. Otterbein went back up 67-66 when DeQuan Owens converted a pair of free throws with 1:46 left in regulation. A Peter Koch jumper flipped John carroll back into the lead at 68-67 with 1:28 to go.
With just under a minute to play, JCU's Brandon Mimes blocked a Minister shot attempt, but Tyler Ousley corralled the rebound and got a short jumper to fall with 53 seconds remaining for a 69-68 Cardinals lead. Another Koch jumper 20 seconds later swung the advantage back to John Carroll, 70-69.
Otterbein set up for a last shot, but an attempt by Owens with 14 seconds left missed the mark. Otterbein's Scott Hadley tried a quick put back, but Blue Streak junior Drew Salata blocked the ball into the hands of teammate Pete Moran. After being fouled, Moran sank both free throws with eight second left to give his team a three-point advantage at 72-69.
The Cardinals last chance to tie the game went by the wayside as Hadley's three-point attempt from the right sideline was errant.
John Carroll (12-2, 7-1 OAC) was led by 12 points from Pete Moran, while Angel scored 11 (before fouling out) and Gibbons added 10 points. The victory for John Carroll was not only its 21st consecutive home win, but also marked the 200th career collegiate victory for head coach Mike Moran. Moran is now 200-110 in 12 seasons at John Carroll.
Otterbein (12-3, 6-2 OAC) was led by a game-high 15 points from Ousley, while Owens and Hadley chipped in 10 points apiece. The Cardinals won the rebounding battle (40-35) but turned the ball over 26 times compared to John Carroll's 10 miscues.
Balanced scoring was the key to both squads this afternoon, as 18 different players scored at least four points today, including all nine that played for Otterbein.