Box Score
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- In his Alumni Hall debut, freshman Max Stepaniak (Ross, Ohio) scored on a layup with 30 seconds remaining, giving the Ohio Dominican men's basketball the lead for good on Monday evening, as the Panthers defeated Wilberforce in non-conference action, 77-74.
The Panthers and Bulldogs combined for seven lead changes, all in the second half, but ODU ended the game on a 7-0 run for its first win of the new season. Stepaniak scored on the right block with 30 seconds remaining and after garnering a defensive stop, Zach Szul (Waterville, Ohio) netted two free throws to secure the three-point advantage with four seconds remaining. Wilberforce would get off a long range three-point attempt as time expired, but the final shot would go off the back of the iron.
Leading the way for ODU was Sean Marks (Delaware, Ohio) with 29 points off the bench, the most by a Panther through the first month of the season. Marks did most of his damage in the second half and behind the arc. The guard scored 18 of his game-high point total in the second half, including a 4-for-5 effort from three-point range. Overall, Marks made five triples, went 10-for-12 from the charity stripe, and pitched in four rebounds.
A sluggish first half saw ODU trail early, but a 7-0 scoring run, sparked by Caleb Strohmeier (Edwardsville, Ill.), tied the game at 14-all midway through the opening stanza. Wilberforce though, responded with a 9-0 scoring run and led by as many as nine points twice in the 20-minute period.
Again, the Panthers were aided by a scoring spark from the bench, as Kayin Derden (Columbus, Ohio) scored eight points, including a pair of three pointers. Ohio Dominican closed the first half making four of its final six shots to close its halftime deficit to three points, 34-31.
Strohmeier scored a season-high seven points, while the eight first-half points for Derden set a new career high for the redshirt sophomore. Overall, ODU enjoyed a 41-29 edge in bench points.
The Panthers carried the momentum into the second half, as a 15-0 scoring spurt, spearheaded by four Marks triples, gave ODU a 51-41 lead with 14:30 remaining. The run was ODU's longest of the season and gave the Panthers their first double-digit advantage in any game this winter.
Wilberforce would not waiver though, answering with its own 11-0 scoring run to recapture the lead, 52-51. The two sides combined for three ties and three lead changes in the final 11 minutes.
Szul joined Marks in double figures, scoring 14 points, including 10 in the second half. Szul also led ODU with eight rebounds. Stepaniak and Mitch Wilkinson (Grand Rapids, Mich.) each produced six points and seven rebounds. Arius Jones (Lansing, Mich.) set a new career high with eight assists.
Ohio Dominican will now enter Great Midwest Athletic Conference play with the second of three consecutive home games on Thursday, Dec. 2. The Panthers welcome G-MAC newcomer for a 7:30 p.m. tip inside Alumni Hall.
jestert@ohiodominican.edu
