| Cam Fails scored 23 points for No. 7 Hanover to get the Panthers back on the winning track. Hanover athletics file photo |
No. 7 Hanover held off a late rally by No. 16 Ohio Wesleyan to win its home opener, and No. 17 Christopher Newport did the same against Salisbury in the CAC opener.
After opening the season with four games away from Collier Arena, No. 7 Hanover returned to its home court against No. 16 Ohio Wesleyan. The Panthers jumped out to an early lead and maintained a double-digit lead on the Battling Bishops into the final five minutes o the second half. Ohio Wesleyan guard Nick Heidel's jumper keyed a 9-0 run that pulled the Battling Bishops within two at 82-80. After Hanover guard Cam Fails scored to push the Panthers lead back to four, Heidel struck again with a three-point play to cut the deficit to 84-83 with 23 seconds left. Ohio Wesleyan twice fouled Hanover to extend the game and the Panthers missed the front end of their one-and-one opportunity both times, but Ohio Wesleyan All-American Nate Axelrod missed potential game-winning shots after both missed free throws. Recap
Cam Fails scored 23 points and Nick White added 18 points, seven rebounds and three blocks for Hanover (4-1). Despite the two late misses, Axelrod had another strong performance with 24 points and 11 assists for Ohio Wesleyan (4-1).
While Hanover bounced back from Saturday's loss to No. 25 Wooster, the Scots couldn't maintain the momentum off that win. Denison dumped Wooster 75-61 in the Big Red's NCAC opener behind 18-point performances by Claude Chandonnet and Matt Doyle. Chandonnet hit four 3-pointers in the first half for Denison (4-1, 1-0) which never trailed. Box score
No. 17 Christopher Newport opened Capital Athletic Conference play with a back-and-forth battle at home against Salisbury. The Captains (4-1, 1-0) were finally able to open a three-possesion lead when Spencer Marin's layup gave CNU a 67-60 advantage with 3:08 to play. The Sea Gulls (2-2, 0-1) answered with six straight points, forcing the Captains to call timeout to regroup for the final 36 seconds. Christopher Newport got free throws from Luther Gibbs, Aaron McFarland and Liam Harrington and held Salisbury scoreless to pull away for a 71-66 victory. Box score
Lycoming had a much easier time in its conference opener against Messiah. The Warriors (6-0) held the Falcons to their lowest offensive output in a decade in a 55-36 Lycoming win. Messiah shot 22 percent from the field (14-for-63) including 4-for-30 from three.
In a rematch of last year's Commonwealth Coast Conference title game, Nichols rolled over Endicott 105-82. The Bison shot 67 percent (24-for-36) and hit 10 three-pointers in the first half and never looked back. DeAnte Burton scored 30 points for Nichols (4-1, 1-0). Recap
Sam Toney scored 36 points and grabbed 17 rebounds and New Jersey City edged William Paterson 87-83 in overtime. William Paterson's George Sapp hit a game-tying three-pointer with two seconds left in regulation but the Gothic Knights (6-0, 2-0 NJAC) held William Paterson to just four points in overtime. Box score
Augsburg improved to 2-0 in the MIAC with an 87-74 win at Bethel. Collin Olmscheid scored 23 points and Booker Coplin went 10-for-10 from the foul line for the Auggies. Albertus Magnus sent Babson to its third loss in four games as All-American Jaqhawn Walters posted 31 points and 14 rebounds for the Falcons (2-1). Ryan Pittman blocked a potential game-tying layup and then made two free throws to seal Albertus Magnus' 85-81 win.
In women's action, Chicago rallied past No. 24 Wheaton (Ill.) in the fourth quarter for an 82-77 win. Taylor Lake scored seven of her team-high 22 points for the Maroons in the decisive fourth quarter. Olariche Obi added 11 points, 17 rebounds and six steals for Chicago (4-2). Box score
Jessica Daguilh posted a double-double (12 points, 11 rebounds) and No. 2 Christopher Newport beat Salisbury 67-52 in the teams' conference opener. No. 4 Wartburg opened IIAC play by crushing Dubuque 86-58, No. 10 Thomas Moore hammered Thiel 114-51 and No. 5 UW-Oshkosh rolled over St. Norbert 79-49.
Staten Island held off New York U. 65-62 behind 19 points from preseason All-American Christina Pasaturo who played a full 40 minutes. The Dolphins' win snaps a 21-game losing streak against New York U., dating back to 1984. Staten Island improved to 4-1 with its lone loss coming to Division I Wagner.