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Ohio Wesleyan 78, Hiram 57 (12/8/2001)

Junior guard Jason Dopoulos (Strongsville) drilled a trio of 3-pointers during a game-opening 20-7 burst and Ohio Wesleyan went on to defeat Hiram in North Coast Athletic Conference play on Saturday at Branch Rickey Arena.

Dopoulos put the Bishops on the scoreboard with a 3-pointer, but Hiram answered with a pair of free throws by David Mayle to pull within 3-2.

Sophomore center Travis Schwab (Medina) followed with back-to-back lay-ins, and Dopoulos and freshman forward Seth Rhea (Delaware/Hayes) sank 3-pointers as the Bishops pulled ahead 15-5. Hiram sank just 1 of its first 9 shots during that span, but the Terriers stayed in the game, closing to within 22-11 on an Allen Kirkpatrick jumper and a Brian Cecil follow shot with 8:10 left in the first half.

Ohio Wesleyan held the Terriers to just 2 baskets, both by Emeka Mbanefo, during the remainder of the half on the way to taking a 45-21 lead at the intermission, courtesy of a 3-pointer by junior guard Kyle Comstock (Sunbury/Buckeye Valley) with just under a second on the clock.

Schwab scored the Bishops' first 12 points of the second half as the Bishops built the lead to 57-25 with 15:35 to play. The Terriers were not able to come closer than 20 points during the rest of the game.

Schwab led the Bishops with 25 points and grabbed 6 rebounds. Dopoulos finished with 13 points and Rhea had 10 points. Freshman forward Brandon Cole (Sidney) led the Bishops with 12 rebounds and sophomore guard Shawn Kindred (Delaware/Hayes) led the Bishops with 5 assists.

Mbanefo led Hiram with 11 points and 5 rebounds, while Cecil and Mayle each contributed 10 points and 5 boards.