Hiram uses balanced attack in 76-69 win over Kenyon

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HIRAM, OHIO -- Four players scored in double figures to lead the Hiram College men's basketball team past Kenyon by a 76-69 score on Saturday afternoon.

The Terriers improve to 6-1 on the season and 1-1 in the NCAC, while the Lords fall to 2-4, 1-2.

Junior J.J. Woodson (Cleveland/Bedford) led Hiram with a team-high 15 points, while sophomore Kyle Deckerd (Louisville/Canton South) had 13 points.

Junior Austen Rekolt (Salem/West Branch) added 11 points, seven rebounds, four assists and four steals. Freshman Joe Zoltowski (Erie, Pa./Harbor Creek) also scored 11 points for the Terriers.

Kenyon was led by Tim Connolly, who finished with a game-high 29 points.

Hiram used a 13-4 run midway through the first half to open up a 31-17 lead.

The Lords would chip away at the lead and a runner at the buzzer by the Lords' Cooper Handelsman cut Hiram's lead to 37-34 at the half.

Kenyon would cut the Terriers lead to 48-47 in the second half, but Hiram scored the next five points to push the lead back to 53-47 with 12:10 left to play.

Two free throws from Deckerd expanded Hiram's lead to 70-58 with 3:26 left to play.

The Lords would again respond and a basket from Connolly cut Hiram's lead to 72-69 with just over a minute to play.

But the Terriers would get three defensive stops in the final minute and use four free throws to finish off the victory.

"The difference tonight is that we stuck together when things got tough," said head coach Chris Kibler. "This was a great team effort. Austen and Joe were a key to the victory. They both made baskets when we really needed one."

Hiram finished 26-of-60 (43.3 percent) from the field, while the Lords were 23-of-54 (42.6 percent).

The Terriers won the rebounding battle 43-37 and also saw their bench outscore Kenyon 26-8.

Hiram will return to action on December 13, when it begins a five-game road trip at No. 14-ranked Ohio Wesleyan. Tip-off is set for 3 p.m.