Box Score CANTON, Ohio – A late second half push for the Ohio Dominican men's basketball team was not enough as the Panthers fell 88-85 in their final regular season road game at Malone Thursday evening in Osborn Hall.
Senior Sam Hickey (Toledo, Ohio) led the way for the Panthers scoring 29 points while grabbing five rebounds with fellow classmate Hasan Varence (Columbus, Ohio) scoring 25 points and grabbing 12 rebounds for his 14th double-double of the season. Freshman Sean Marks (Delaware, Ohio) was the final Panther in double-figures pouring in 14 points while grabbing four rebounds and dishing out four assists off the bench. Senior Michael Scott (Hebron, Ky.) had a team-high eight assists on the evening which puts him second on the list for most assists in a season with 147.
With the Panthers trailing 77-61 with 6:26 remaining in the contest, ODU would use a 22-6 run to cut their deficit to just three at 86-83 with eight seconds to play but a pair of Mouliom free throws would end the chances for the Panther comeback. During the run, Hickey led the way with 10 points while Varence had eight to keep the Panthers in it.
In the first half, ODU came out firing starting the game 7-for-11 from the floor before cooling off throughout the rest of the first half. ODU would finish shooting 8-for-25 from the floor (45.5%) and just 3-for-13 from behind the arc (23.1%).
The first half saw six ties with four lead changes. Late in the half with ODU trailing 26-18, ODU outscored the Pioneers 16-8 over the next five-and-a-half minutes to tie the game at 34 apiece with 4:11 remaining in the opening 20 minutes. The Pioneers would score 10 of the last 11 points of the half and take a 44-35 lead into the half.
ODU opened the second half being able to cut their deficit to five at 51-46 with 16:14 to play on a Hickey three after Varence scored six of the first eight Panther points to open the half. The Pioneers would then go on an 18-4 run to open a 69-50 lead that was just enough to hold off the Panthers.
With the Panthers trailing 77-61 with 6:26 remaining in the contest, ODU would use a 22-9 run to cut their deficit to just three at 86-83 with eight seconds to play but a pair of Mouliom free throws would end the chances for the Panther comeback. During the run, Hickey led the way with 10 points while Varence had eight to keep the Panthers in it.
The Panthers shot 52.5% from the floor (32-for-61) but just 31.8% from behind the arc (7-for-22) while Malone shot over 50% in both halves finishing 55.2% (32-for-58) from the floor an 52.2% from three (12-for-23). The Pioneers were just 12-for-21 from the free throw line which helped allow the Panthers to stay within striking distance.
Marcus Ernst led the way for the Pioneers with 21 points and nine rebounds with Bo Myers coming off the bench to score 17 as well for Malone who is now 15-11 overall and 9-7 in the conference.
The Panthers, now 11-15 overall and 7-9 in the conference, will be home for their final two games as they host Alderson Broaddus this Saturday with tip set for 1 p.m. in Alumni Hall.
