With the outside shots just not falling for the home team, Hodgkinson's inside presence combined with a strong team effort on the boards was just what the doctor ordered and enabled Denison to get back to the .500 mark at 10-10.
Hodgkinson scored 16 of his 29 points in the first half and was 14-of-21 from the field. To cap off his big night, he moved into 10th place on the DU all-time scoring list, passing 1999 graduate Jason Rusnak. In just his third season with the Big Red Hodgkinson has 1,286 points.
Junior forward Dan Izzo contributed 16 points off a bevy of backdoor cuts and slashing moves to the basket. Izzo was 7-of-14 from the field and also had six rebounds. His 16 points was one off his season-high set back on Dec. 17 against Wabash.
DU outrebounded the Yeomen 46-28 and pulled down a season-high 20 rebounds. Senior Robb Hern, the conference's leader in rebounds pulled down 12. It was his seventh double-digit rebounding performance of the season. He also scored eight points and handed out seven dimes in 33 minutes. In the first half Hern became the second Denison player this season to surpass 500 career rebound milestone. After tonight's effort he has 506 for his career.
Oberlin was led by sophomore Quinton Spencer's 27 points and nine rebounds. Last year's NCAC Newcomer of the Year, Spencer was 8-of-21 from the field and hit 9-of-10 from the free throw line. Freshman Mike Loll scored 13 points had seven rebounds and five blocked shots.
Denison was a paltry 1-of-13 from 3-point range but still shot 46 percent for the game. Oberlin hit six 3-pointers and shot 39 percent from the field.
DU will be back in action on Saturday when they travel to Crawfordsville, Ind. for a 3 p.m. battle with Wabash College.
Newspaper Box Score
Oberlin vs Denison
02-01-06 7:30 p.m. at Granville, Ohio {Livingston Gymnasium}
At Granville, Ohio {Livingston Gymnasium}
DENISON 74, OBERLIN 65
OBERLIN (0-19, 0-11 NCAC)
Quinton Spencer 8-21 9-10 27; Mike Loll 5-12 2-2 13; Brad Spelich 4-7 2-3
10; Matt Godwin 3-10 0-0 9; Noah Goldman 1-3 4-4 6; Omari Hall 0-1 0-0 0.
Totals 21-54 17-19 65.
DENISON (10-10,6-5 NCAC)
Dan Hodgkinson 14-21 1-1 29; Dan Izzo 7-14 2-3 16; Brian Gognat 4-6 1-2 9;
Robb Hern 3-9 2-4 8; Chris Eberst 2-6 0-1 5; Jordan Krantz 0-1 4-6 4; Shea
McMahon 1-3 0-0 2; Steve Koecheler 0-4 1-2 1; Mike Shea 0-2 0-0 0; John Ward
0-1 0-0 0. Totals 31-67 11-19 74.
Oberlin....................... 19 46 - 65
Denison....................... 30 44 - 74
3-point goals-Oberlin 6-23 (Matt Godwin 3-7; Quinton Spencer 2-8; Mike Loll
1-6; Noah Goldman 0-2), Denison 1-13 (Chris Eberst 1-4; Brian Gognat 0-1;
Robb Hern 0-2; Jordan Krantz 0-1; Shea McMahon 0-2; Mike Shea 0-1; John Ward
0-1; Dan Hodgkinson 0-1). Fouled out--Oberlin-None, Denison-None.
Rebounds-Oberlin 28 (Quinton Spencer 9), Denison 46 (Dan Hodgkinson 14).
Assists-Oberlin 7 (Quinton Spencer 3), Denison 21 (Robb Hern 7). Total
fouls-Oberlin 19, Denison 18. A-430