Jake Phillis led Otterbein to a season-opening win, on a weekend that was bigger than basketball. Photo by Ed Syguda

By Greg Chandler

The NCAC got the better of the OAC on the first night of the season-opening Challenge tournament pitting teams from the two conferences against one another on Saturday at Otterbein's Rike Center.

Defending NCAC champion Ohio Wesleyan defeated the host Cardinals, 80-75, while Wittenberg defeated Capital, 87-78, giving the visiting schools a sweep of their OAC rivals.

While the play was intense in both contests – a total of 62 fouls were called in the Wittenberg-Capital game, for example – the tournament also gave the schools an opportunity to raise awareness and funds to the fight against leukemia. The battle hit home earlier this month when Capital head coach Damon Goodwin took a leave of absence from his job after being diagnosed with hairy cell leukemia, a rare but highly treatable cancer of the blood.

"There are some very good teams within a close distance of one another, so it's exciting anytime you can get them together in the same venue," Otterbein head coach Brian Oilar said. "In addition, being able to generate support for a good cause and rally around Coach Goodwin was icing on the cake. It really enhanced the night as a whole."

All four teams wore orange T-shirts symbolizing leukemia awareness during the warmup, and orange wrist bands with the words "No One Fights Alone" were sold at the game with all proceeds going to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. All told, more than $2,600 was raised for the society through ticket sales as well as wristband purchases and donations, Otterbein sports information director Adam Prescott said.

In the first game of the night, Wittenberg rallied from a six-point halftime deficit to take a 61-50 lead midway through the second half. But the Crusaders stormed back with a 15-3 run to grab a 65-64 lead with 6:39 to play.

However, the Tigers made 14 consecutive free throws in the final three minutes – eight by Jaelin Williams and six by Garrett Dorfman – to put the game away. Witt made 33 of 49 from the line for the game compared to 24 of 39 for Capital.

"It was two very proud programs competing hard in our quests to bounce back from unusual subpar seasons a year ago," Wittenberg head coach Bill Brown said. "Both teams played very hard and inspired basketball."

Williams led Witt with 21 points, while Dorfman came off the bench to add 16. Cody Phillippi also had 16 points while Shane Edwards grabbed a game-high 14 rebounds to go along with 12 points. Mark Minch had 21 points and 10 boards for Capital.

In the second game, played in front of more than 1,000 fans at the Rike Center, Ohio Wesleyan held off a furious comeback bid by Otterbein in the final three minutes to win its season opener.

All five starters scored in double figures for the Battling Bishops, led by Seth Clark with 23 points, including 4-of-9 from 3-point range. Nate Axelrod fired in 21 more for OWU.

Jake Phillis scored 21 points and dished out seven assists for the Cardinals before fouling out in the waning moments. Mark McCuen added 16 points and 11 rebounds.

"It's always good to get a win, especially in your first game and against a local rival," Bishops' head coach Mike DeWitt said. "We knew Otterbein would be a tough challenge on the road with a new coach and all the enthusiasm around the game, so we're satisfied to come out of there with a victory."

Ohio Wesleyan's dominance of the boards was a key factor in the win, as the Bishops held a 43-35 advantage in rebounding, including a 17-9 edge on the offensive glass that contributed to 29 second-chance points.

While the coaches were glad to finally get out on the floor for their first games, they were just as glad to help one of their colleagues.

"Obviously when this was all put together we had no idea as to Damon Goodwin ever being diagnosed with leukemia, so that part of it all unfolded in very quick fashion," Brown said. "And while all the schools immediately stepped to the plate to make it happen, Matt Croci - associate head coach in our program and former full-time assistant to Damon at Capital - was the primary person who pulled it all together."

DeWitt agrees.

"We are hopeful that what was done will raise awareness for not only leukemia but any type of cancer," he said. "The college coaching fraternity is a very tightly knit one, and Damon is such a positive influence in central Ohio that I think all four schools were more than willing to do this on his behalf."

The NCAC/OAC Challenge resumed Tuesday at Wittenberg's Pam Evans Smith Arena, with Capital facing Ohio Wesleyan at 6 p.m., followed by the host Tigers taking on Otterbein.

How do you do?

Christian Covile made a big splash in his first weekend of action for Adrian, earning tournament Most Valuable Player honors at the Carthage Classic as the Bulldogs won the tournament.

Covile, a transfer from nearby NAIA Siena Heights, scored 30 points and ripped down 11 rebounds in a season-opening 105-76 romp over Robert Morris-Peoria. The 105 points are the most the Bulldogs have scored during the tenure of head coach Mark White.

Covile then followed up with a 24-point, 13-rebound effort as Adrian defeated the host Red Men in the championship game, 69-59. He shot 65 percent from the field for the tournament, 62 percent from 3-point range and made all 15 of his free throws.

Lighting it up!

The first weekend of Great Lakes women's hoops action featured some spectacular individual efforts.

St. Vincent's Susie Ellis nailed 6-of-8 on 3-point tries on her way on her way to a career-high 30-point performance as St. Vincent routed Allegheny, 84-62. Ellis had scored only 84 points all of last season, and her previous career high was 11. The Bearcats outscored the Gators 33-14 in the fourth quarter to turn the game into a runaway.

Pitt-Bradford's Ali Rinfrette matched Ellis' output, scoring 30 points to go along with seven rebounds and four steals in the Panthers' 77-64 win over Elmira. Rinfrette's effort helped make new Pitt-Bradford coach Sean Brown Sr. a winner in his head coaching debut.

Calvin's tandem of Ali Spayde (26 points, eight assists) and Anna Timmer (25 points, 16 rebounds) combined for 51 points as the 10th-ranked Knights raced past North Central, 106-80, in Naperville in a battle of two teams that made last year's NCAA tournament.

Got news?

If you've got a story that's worth telling about your team or one of your student-athletes, I want to hear about it! Please send me any story ideas from the Great Lakes region to me at greg.chandler@d3sports.com.        

Around the Great Lakes was written by Greg Chandler during the 2015-16 season. He is a veteran journalist and broadcaster who has followed Division III basketball for more than 25 years. He has called Hope basketball for radio, including the 2006 national championship run, and served as the first publicist for the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association.