The win moves the Cardinals to 14-5 overall and 8-4 in the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC). More importantly, Otterbein is now just one game back of John Carroll and Baldwin-Wallace for first place in the OAC, both of whom are 9-3 in league play.
Junior point guard Tony Borghese (Columbus/DeSales) became just the 18th player in men's basketball history to score 1,000 career points. Borghese tallied 16 points and six assists in the victory.
Junior Scott Hadley (Lewis Center/Worthington Christian) totaled a team-high 25 points and seven rebounds, while senior Mo Ross (Sunbury/Big Walnut) scored 13 points off then bench. Senior Kyle Walton delivered 11 points. Tyler Ousley (Butler/Clear Fork) and Phil Susi (Pickerington/Pickerington) also finished in double figures with 10 points apiece.
John Carroll, ranked 16th in the latest d3hoops.com poll, had beaten Otterbein just two weeks ago in University Heights, but the Cardinals jumped out early on the visiting Blue Streaks and never looked back.
The Blue Streaks held just one lead, 2-0, and fell victim to a huge Cardinal run midway through the first half.
After two free throws by Jerry Angel cut the Cardinal's lead to 18-15, Otterbein scored the next 18 points to take a commanding 36-15 lead with 7:09 left in the first half.
Otterbein stretched its advantage to 25 points, 47-22, with 3:54 left in the first stanza. The Cardinals held a 54-34 lead at the half.
The Blue Streaks cut the deficit to 59-45 with 17:22 left after back-to-back three-pointers by Angel and Pete Moran. Borghese countered on the ensuing possession with a trey from the top of the circle to give the Cardinals a 62-45 lead.
That proved to be more than enough room for the Cardinals whose lead never dipped below 15 points the rest of the way.
The Cardinals shot 57 percent from the field as a team, while holding the Blue Streaks to just a 40 percent effort.
Otterbein will travel to Ohio Northern, 7:30 p.m., Wednesday before hosting Capital, 7:30 p.m., next Saturday. Otterbein, Ohio Northern, and Capital are tied for second place in the OAC. The Cardinals defeated Ohio Northern, 73-67, in Westerville Jan. 21.
Newspaper Box Score John Carroll University vs Otterbein College 1/31/04 7:30 p.m. at Rike Center; Westerville, OH At Rike Center; Westerville, OH OTTERBEIN COLLEGE 100, JOHN CARROLL UNIVERSITY 83 JOHN CARROLL UNIVERSITY ((14-4, 9-3)) David Gibbons 6-15 3-4 17; Michael Grogan 6-13 2-2 16; Jerry Angel 3-10 2-2 9; Matthew Moran 3-5 2-2 9; Brandon Mimes 1-3 7-9 9; Peter Koch 3-8 0-2 7; Pete Moran 3-6 0-0 7; Jon Franks 2-5 0-0 4; Andrew Salata 1-2 0-0 2; Justin Ragor 0-1 1-2 1; Chris Day 0-1 0-0 0; Mike Salopek 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 28-70 19-25 83. OTTERBEIN COLLEGE ((14-5, 8-4)) Scott Hadley 7-10 11-14 25; Tony Borghese 3-8 8-10 16; Mo Ross 5-6 1-2 13; Kyle Walton 4-8 2-3 11; Tyler Ousley 4-6 2-3 10; Phil Susi 3-3 4-4 10; Neil Hohman 4-4 0-1 8; Aaron Minister 2-7 3-4 7; DeQuan Owens 0-4 0-0 0. Totals 32-56 31-41 100. John Carroll University....... 34 49 - 83 Otterbein College............. 54 46 - 100 3-point goals-John Carroll University 8-20 (Michael Grogan 2-5; David Gibbons 2-3; Matthew Moran 1-1; Jerry Angel 1-6; Peter Koch 1-2; Pete Moran 1-1; Mike Salopek 0-1; Justin Ragor 0-1), Otterbein College 5-9 (Tony Borghese 2-5; Mo Ross 2-2; Kyle Walton 1-2). Fouled out--John Carroll University-Pete Moran, Otterbein College-None. Rebounds-John Carroll University 43 (David Gibbons 9), Otterbein College 36 (Scott Hadley 7). Assists-John Carroll University 12 (David Gibbons 3), Otterbein College 23(Tony Borghese 6). Total fouls-John Carroll University 31, Otterbein College 20. A-1872 Tony Borghese becomes the 18th player in Otterbein men's basketball to score 1000 points.