WESTERVILLE, Ohio (Dec. 29) — Five players scored in double figures highlighted by a career-high 28-point effort by sophomore Trevor Reed as the Denison University men's basketball team earned a 82-70 victory over the Hanover Panthers in action Sunday evening at the 2024 Smokey Ballenger Classic hosted by Otterbein University in Westerville.
The win is the third straight for Denison, who moves to 8-1 overall. Hanover sees its record fall to 6-4 overall.
Reed made 9-of-12 field goal attempts including a four-of-six effort from three-point range. Senior guard Darren Rubin tallied 16 points and chipped in three assists.
Senior forward Ricky Radtke finished with 13 points, five rebounds and four assists. Cameron Smith had 10 points, five rebounds, three assists and three steals to fill the stat sheet. Senior guard Tyler Miller rounded out the double digit scorers with 10 points off the bench.
The Big Red used a quick start to gain the early lead. Reed once again had the hit hand. The sophomore tallied the first eight Denison points to help them jump out to a 10-2 advantage.
Smith moved the lead back into double figures with a basket at the 13:26 mark. The Smith layup made the score 20-10. Hanover responded with seven-straight points to make it a one possession game.
Denison was able to withstand the run and maintain its cushion. The Big Red closed the half with made field goals from Miller and Cameron Smith in the final 34 seconds. The strong finish made it a six-point lead, 39-33, at the break.
The Big Red shot 50 percent from the field in the first half. Reed racked up 18 points during the opening half.
Denison was quick out of the gates in the second half. The Big Red were quick to extend the lead back into double figures, using four made free throws to make it a 45-35 lead.
A three-point basket by Rubin swelled the advantage to 15 points at 52-37 less than four minutes into the half. The Panthers brought the deficit back to six points when eight straight points made it 57-51 at the 12:13 mark. Rubin and Reed alleviated some tension with consecutive triples to extend the lead back into double digits with 11:35 remaining.
Hanover momentarily trimmed the deficit back into single digits with a layup at the 7:48 mark. Rubin and Miller quickly made field goals to stretch the advantage to 72-59 with 6:50 to play.
Denison was able to maintain its commanding advantage down the stretch. Cameron Smith knocked down a triple to make the score 75-62 at the 5:47 mark. Radtke slammed down a dunk to bring the score to 80-66 with just 3:04 to play to help put things out of reach.
Denison shot 51.7 percent for the game. The Big Red made nine three-point field goals and sank 13-of-17 free throw attempts.
Jeremiah Alexander led the Panthers with 21 points.
Up Next: The Big Red will return to action Monday and will face the University of Olivet. The two teams tip off in Westerville at 6 p.m.