With its win, B-W is now 18-8 and will play Mount Union in the OAC Final Four on Friday, Feb. 26 at 6:00 p.m. This was B-W's first win against Otterbein in Westerville since 1998 when the Yellow Jackets defeated the Cardinals, 83-80, in the OAC Championship game. With the loss, Otterbein ends their season at 17-9.
In the first half, there were nine lead changes and four ties before Otterbein went on a 10-2 run in the final 4:20, caped by six points by senior forward Scott Hadley. The Cardinals led by as many as seven points in the first half, including 39-32 at the intermission.
In the second half, Otterbein built its lead to as many as 12 points at 49-37 with 13:18 left in the game when senior guard Mark Church made two free-throws. The Yellow Jackets then outscored the Cardinals 33-21 and tied the game with 21.6 seconds left when freshman guard Tyler Sekerak made the front end of a two-shot foul. Otterbein senior guard Tony Borgese had two chances to win the game in the final 2.6 seconds but missed both shots.
In overtime, the game was tied at 72-72, 74-74, 76-76, when Tori Davis scored the game-winner. Hadley had a desperation three-pointer at the buzzer that was off its mark.
Joining Tori Davis in double figures for B-W was his older brother, senior forward Thad Davis who scored 23 points and grabbed seven rebounds.
Otterbein had three players score in double figures led by senior forward Scott Hadley with 20 points. Church scored 16, sophomore guard Dequan Owens scored 13 and sophomore Neil Hohman added 10.
With Thad Davis' 23 points and seven rebounds tonight, he now has 1,876 career points and 968 rebounds and moves ahead of B-W standout Shawn McCormack (1999-03) to rank third all-time in scoring and fourth in rebounding.
If top-seeded John Carroll University defeats eighth-seeded Wilmington College tonight in University Heights, then JCU is the host for the OAC Final Four on Friday and Saturday. Semifinal games on Friday are at 6:00 and 8:00 p.m. The 2005 OAC Championship Game is on Saturday, Feb. 26 at 7:30 p.m.