Box Score COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Capital University men's basketball scrapped through Tuesday night's game against Ohio Wesleyan University, but the Battling Bishops' outside attack proved to be too much for the Crusaders. Ohio Wesleyan defeated Capital 85-67 inside the Capital Center, dropping the Crusaders to 1-3 overall.
Through much of the first half, Capital went blow for blow with OWU but eventually the Bishops showed they had one too many attackers on the floor to cover all at once. Matt Jeske hit a three to open up a six-point lead, 36-30 with 4:20 remaining in the opening half, which spurred a 7-0 run. Ohio Wesleyan held a 10-point lead going into the half, but Capital continued to challenge that mark.
Sophomore guard Kersey Long (Columbus, Ohio/Westland) and junior guard AJ Dixon (Hilliard, Ohio/Bradley) combined to score the second half's first five points to trim OWU's lead to four points. After Claude Gray hit a three, Dixon responded with another shot from behind the arc and was fouled on the play. He converted the unconventional four-point play to keep the Bishops' lead at three, 46-43.
The Bishops' outside arsenal kept hitting from three-point range as Ben Simpson responded with another trey. Capital jostled for the momentum again when Andrew Bolka (Xenia, Ohio) went up for a two-pointer and was fouled upon making the basket.
Bolka's three-point play was then followed up by one from Nate Axelrod of the Bishops. A turnover by Capital led to another three ball by Jeske, and later one by Nick Felhaber. After the dust settled, Ohio Wesleyan had regained its double digit lead and began to break away from the Crusaders for good.
Ohio Wesleyan hit 14 three-point shots over the course of the game and finished shooting 38.9 percent from behind the arc. Capital responded with just five on 17 attempts.
Capital's 23 turnovers marred their chances at keeping it close, as they led to 15 OWU points. The Crusaders did own the inside, scoring 34 of their 67 points in the paint.
Bolka finished with a game-high 21 points while shooting an impressive 7-of-8 from the field and 7-for-11 from the free throw line. He accumulated 17 rebounds, tying a career-high he set in the season-opener against Thomas More College (Ky.).
Senior post player Ben Danhoff (Clyde, Ohio) was the second of three Crusaders to finished in double digits scoring, closing the night out with 16 points and seven boards. Dixon rounded out Capital's leading scorers with 11 points.
Capital (1-3) will now hit the road for a game against Mount St. Joseph's this Sunday, Nov. 30. Tipoff is set for 5 p.m.
