Bishops Steal Overtime Victory with Late Rally Against Defiance

WOOSTER, Ohio – Defiance saw a late lead evaporate against Ohio Wesleyan, before charging back in the closing seconds to force an overtime session. The Bishops would rally with five-straight points late in overtime however, to hand the Jackets an 82-78 loss for their second setback in as many nights.

DC claimed a 22-21 lead on a Kyle Tietje jumper with 5:45 left in the opening half and maintained a lead, which swelled to as many as 11 points midway through the second stanza, before Ohio Wesleyan went back in front by a 62-61 margin with 2:38 to play.

The lead change was the result of a 14-2 spurt by the Bishops that turned a 61-54 Yellow Jacket lead into a 68-63 OWU advantage with only 15 seconds remaining in regulation. DC used a Drew Frizell trifecta to keep its hopes alive, before a Logan Wolfrum three-point shot at the horn found its mark to knot the score at 69-69 and force the extra session.

The momentum changes continued into the final five minutes, as Frizell struck from long distance yet again to erase a three-point deficit and a Wolfrum layup on DC's next trip gave the Jackets a 75-74 edge.

Ohio Wesleyan battled back once again, using five-straight points to put Defiance in a four-point hole with only 46 ticks left in the game. Wolfrum scored a three-point play to keep DC in the game, but OWU tacked on a pair of free throws for an 81-78 lead with 14 seconds remaining.

Wolfrum would fire off one last three but there would be no more heroics, as the attempt was off target and Ohio Wesleyan escaped with the 82-78 victory.

Defiance sizzled from beyond the arc all night long, using 13 made treys on a 43.0-percent clip to nearly overcome a sizeable, 27-9, disparity from the free throw line by Ohio Wesleyan.

Wolfrum led the way for DC with 23 points, four rebounds and four assists and was named to the HCAC/NCAC Classic All-Tournament Team, while Frizell knocked in four triples for 12 points and Tietje registered a double-double with 10 points, 11 boards and a pair of blocks.

DC (1-2) will continue its challenging early-season schedule on Tuesday, November 22, when it welcomes Ohio Northern (2-0) into the Karl H. Weaner Community Center for the 2011-2012 home opener. The two squads are set to tip at 7:30 pm, in a rematch of last year's double-overtime classic that was won by the Polar Bears, 93-90, on November 23, 2010.