Ohio Wesleyan broke an early 9-9 tie with 3-pointers by sophomore post Ben Chojnacki and sophomore wing David Yuskewich, and the Bishops still held a 19-14 lead on a pair of free throws by sophomore wing Ted Uritus with 9:33 left in the first half.
Earlham then went on a 13-2 run, with Evan Ogburn beginning the run with a lay-in and capping it with a 3-pointer that gave the Quakers a 27-21 lead with 5:39 left in the period.
Ohio Wesleyan responded by scoring the final 13 points of the first half, tying the score on consecutive baskets by junior wing Andy Warnock, Rudegeair and Uritus, then taking the lead for good on Warnock's 3-pointer with :56 left in the half. A pair of Rudegeair free throws followed, and the Bishops put an exclamation point on the half when freshman wing Brian Cafarella grabbed the rebound of a missed 3-pointer and fired in a fadeaway shot at the first- half buzzer for a 34-27 Ohio Wesleyan lead.
The Quakers closed to within 40-34 on Brandon Miller's 3-point play with 18:29 left in regulation time, but Ohio Wesleyan then took off on a 12-3 spurt that featured King's long-range trifecta as well as a basket and a free throw from Chojnacki. King's last 3- pointer of the run gave the Bishops a 52-37 lead with 15:10 to play.
Earlham chipped away at the deficit, closing to within 60-54 on Jermaine Crumby's hoop with 4:18 to go, but Rudegeair answered with a 3-pointer on Ohio Wesleyan's next possession, then assisted a Uritus basket and sank a pair of free throws as the Bishops took a 67-56 lead with 2:32 to play, and Chojnacki and senior guard Tyler Reed sank free throws down the stretch to help the Bishops keep it a 3-possession game.
Rudegeair led the Bishops with 15 points and 10 rebounds. Chojnacki followed with 14 points, King finished with 13 points and Warnock added 11 points. Uritus led the Bishops with 6 assists.
Miller led the Quakers with 21 points, 10 rebounds and 3 assists. LaRon Henry contributed 11 points for Earlham.