Junior guard Isaac Ward contributed 8 points during an 18-3 run that put Ohio Wesleyan ahead to stay in a win over Alvernia at the Music City Classic, hosted by Welch College on Friday in Gallatin, Tenn.

With the score tied at 35 early in the second half, senior guard Henry Hinkle knocked down a 3-pointer to put the Bishops up for good, and senior post Phil Wallace hit a jumper from the lane before Ward converted a 3-point play with 17:09 left.

Robert Cottrell sank a 3-pointer to bring the Golden Wolves within 43-38, but Ward answered with a lay-in and a 3-pointer to stretch the Ohio Wesleyan lead to 48-38, and a lay-in by junior wing Jessee Battle and a 3-pointer from senior wing David Rice made it a 53-38 game.

Alvernia countered with a 10-0 run that included 3 hoops by Jakob Kelly, and the Golden Wolves got back-to-back trifectas from Janye Stanley and Cottrell to close to within 66-62 with 2:49 to play, but a Hinkle 3-pointer made it a 3-possession game with just over 2 minutes to play, and fifth-year post Tony Carter followed with a lay-in before Ward sank 3 free throws during the final 1:03 to seal the outcome.

Hinkle led the Bishops with 23 points.  Ward finished with 20 points, Battle scored 12 points, and Wallace posted team bests of 7 rebounds and 6 assists.