Ohio Wesleyan 89, Wabash 72

March 1, 2008

Sophomore guard Robby Gardiner (Dublin/Coffman) and junior wing Mitch Noggle (Dublin/Coffman) hit 3-pointers during a 12-3 first-half run that put Ohio Wesleyan ahead to stay, and senior post Dustin Rudegeair (Yellow Springs) scored the Bishops' first 8 points of the second half as Ohio Wesleyan pulled away for a win over Wabash in the championship game of the North Coast Athletic Conference tournament on Saturday at Wooster.

With the win, Ohio Wesleyan takes the conference's automatic qualifier to the NCAA Division III tournament. The NCAA Division III playoff appearance is Ohio Wesleyan's first since 1988, when the Battling Bishops went on to win the national championship, and is Ohio Wesleyan's second overall. The NCAA Division III tournament bracket is scheduled to be released on Monday.

The Bishops got a pair of free throws from junior wing Kyle Holliday (Van Wert) and a 3-pointer by senior wing Brian Cafarella (Westerville/North) during the first 61 seconds of the game for a 5-2 lead, but Wabash's Aaron Brock continued his torrid tournament play by hitting a pair of baskets and a 3-pointer to help the Little Giants to an 11-7 lead.

Wabash still led, 20-18, on Gary Simkus's lay-in before the Bishops answered with a jumper by senior post Jesse Jean (Alexandria, Va./Hyde (Conn.) School), tying the game at 20-20 with 8:03 left in the half, and Gardiner followed with a 3-pointer that put the Bishops ahead to stay. A pair of Rudegeair free throws and Noggle's 3-pointer pushed the Ohio Wesleyan lead to 5 points, and junior wing Kyle Miller (Delaware/Hayes) finished off the Bishop run with a lay-in for a 30-23 Ohio Wesleyan edge with 5:18 remaining in the period.

Rudegeair added a pair of baskets and sophomore post Brent Pleiman (Russia) hit a bucket during the final minutes of the half, helping Ohio Wesleyan to a 42-30 lead at the intermission, then Rudegeair hit a basket and a 3-pointer during the opening minute of the second half, extending the Bishop lead to 47-30. Another Rudegeair 3-pointer and a basket by Jean stretched Ohio Wesleyan's lead to 52-32 with 17:23 left in regulation time.

Pleiman's 3-point play gave the Bishops their biggest lead of the game at 68-45 at the midway point of the second half.

Wabash rallied behind mercurial guard Earl Rooks, who hit 4 straight free throws and added a basket in the lane, and when Andrew Zimmer scored inside and Brian Maloney hit a 3-pointer, the Little Giants were within 75-60 with 5:57 remaining.

Jean contributed 3 baskets down the stretch, and senior guard Casey Teeters (Westerville/Columbus St. Charles), Holliday and Cafarella each hit a pair of free throws in the closing minutes to keep the lead in double digits.

Rudegeair led the Bishops with a career-high 29 points. Jean added 14 points and led the Bishops with 8 rebounds, and Teeters led the Bishops with 4 assists.

Brock led Wabash with 19 points, Rooks finished with 16 points and Simkus added 15 points.

Rudegeair was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player. He was joined on the all-tournament team by Holliday, as well as Brock and Rooks from Wabash, James Cooper from Wooster, and Craig Devinney from Allegheny.

Box Score