Ohio Wesleyan 73, Johnson & Wales 65

Nov. 22, 2009

Sophomore wing Tim Brady (Dublin/Jerome) scored 5 straight points in the closing seconds of the first half to tie the game, and sophomore post Pat Pellerite (Olmsted Falls) added 12 of his game-high 18 points in the second half as Ohio Wesleyan went on to top Johnson & Wales in the consolation game of the Titan Tip-Off Tournament, hosted by Illinois Wesleyan University on Saturday in Bloomington, Ill.

The Wildcats opened up a 3-0 lead on a pair of free throws by James Folk and another by Lamonte Thomas, but Ohio Wesleyan answered with baskets by Brady and senior post Brent Pleiman (Russia) for a 4-3 edge which would turn out to be the Bishops' only lead of the half.

Thomas buried a 3-pointer to give Johnson & Wales the lead, another Thomas 3-pointer and a bucket by Calvin Jones put the Wildcats ahead, 11-6, and Johnson & Wales still led, 29-24, on a pair of Jones free throws with :44 left in the half.

Ohio Wesleyan stormed back when Brady took a pass from freshman post Marshall Morris (Tulsa, Okla./Jenks), scored and was fouled, and completed the 3-point play with :08 left on the clock. The Wildcats' Justin Adams then lost the ball, and Brady tied the game with a dunk just before the buzzer to even the game at 29-29.

The Bishops carried that momentum into the second half, opening the period with a jumper and a free throw from Pleiman and a 3-pointer by junior wing Dillon McBride (Medina) to take the lead for good. Ohio Wesleyan stretched its lead to 9 points on back-to-back baskets by Pellerite that made it a 42-33 game with 13:22 left in regulation time.

Adams hit a 3-pointer to kick off a 9-1 run that brought the Wildcats within 45-44 at the midway point of the second half, but the Bishops countered with scores by Brady and senior guard Rob Gardiner (Dublin/Coffman), a pair of Morris free throws, and a basket by Pellerite to restore the 9-point lead at 53-44 with 7:28 to play.

Johnson & Wales rallied to within 61-57 on a Jones free throw with 1:36 to go, but freshman guard Andy Winters (Columbus/Bishop Watterson) answered with a basket, then Gardiner and Morris combined to go 10-for-10 from the line during the final minute to nail down the victory.

Pellerite led the Bishops with 18 points and 8 rebounds. Brady finished with 14 points, McBride scored 13 points, and Morris had 10 points -- going 10-for-10 from the line -- and a team-high 4 assists.

Thomas led the Wildcats with 21 points, and Jones finished with 20 points.

Pellerite represented the Bishops on the all-tournament team.

Box Score