COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio Dominican men's basketball team defeated Notre Dame College 89-69 to win its fifth consecutive home opener.

The 89 points is the most a Panther squad has scored in a game since the 93-91 victory over Urbana in last season's home opener. This was the second time this season the Panthers have scored in the 80's.  

The Panthers (1-2) received double digit scoring from four players including junior Mark Minch (West Chester, OH). Minch scored 22 points while grabbing six rebounds, and dishing out four assists. Another junior Chad Nelson (Columbus, OH) scored a season high 20 points and added four assists.

Freshman Mike DeLeon (Powell, OH) made his home debut for the Panthers, recording career highs in points (12) and rebounds (13) en route to his first collegiate double-double. Junior Trent Weaver (Columbus, OH) was the fourth Panther in double figures with 15 points, as he grabbed six rebounds.

ODU shot 53.3% from the field making 32-of-60 field goal attempts. The Black and Gold continue to get scoring from their bench as they outscored the NDC bench 24-7.

The Panthers held Notre Dame's high power offense in check early as the Falcons (2-1) went 7-of-22 in the opening 13 minutes of the first half, allowing ODU to go in front 22-17.

Minch hit a three from the left wing to extend the lead to 28-19 with 5:45 left in the half to give the Panthers their biggest lead. NDC drew even at 33-33 with 2:25 to play, but Weaver would score the final four points of the half to give the Panthers a 39-35 lead at the break.

The Falcons shot just 11-of-33 in the first half (33.3 percent), while the Panthers made 13-of-29 from the field (44.8 percent).

Minch completed a three-point play in transition to extend the lead to 49-41 four minutes into the second half, and three straight buckets by Nelson extended the lead to 55-43. He made another driving layup to make it 57-43 with just over 13 minutes left to cap his personal 8-0 run.

Weaver found Waugh on a nifty cut to the bucket to keep the Panthers lead at 65-55 with just under 10 minutes left. The Falcons cut it 65-59, but Nelson made two free throws and Weaver made a layup to get it back to a 10 point lead.

Nelson then finished off a three-point play and Weaver made another layup to give the Panthers their biggest lead, 74-59, with 7:27 left in the half.

The lead would grow to as much as 22 points in the second half. 

Ohio Dominican hits the road for a 7 p.m. contest Tuesday at Seton Hill.

Contact: Scott Miles
miless@ohiodominican.edu