Breaking News
GAMBIER, Ohio — Ohio Northern University beat Kenyon College 90-68 in a men’s basketball match on November 16, 2024 at Tomsich Arena in Gambier, Ohio. 15008000

Owls trounce Terriers to tally first NCAC victory

HIRAM, Ohio — The Kenyon College men’s basketball team picked up its first win of 2025 on Saturday afternoon, a victory that also marked the team’s first North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) victory of the season. The Owls (2-11, 1-4 NCAC) hit the road to face the Hiram College Terriers (5-10, 0-6 NCAC) in a conference clash, and Kenyon came out on top 87-75 after a season-high scoring showing.

Kenyon’s previous high-water scoring mark came a little over a month ago when the team put up 79 points in an overtime loss, and today’s offensive outburst marked the program’s most points since a 101-point performance in a win at Grinnell College on November 21, 2022. 

The Owls were locked in at all levels against the Terriers, shooting 48.2 percent (27-56) overall, 42.1 percent (8-19) from three-point range, and 92.6 percent (25-27) at the free throw line. The 25 free throws matched a season-high, and the scorching shooting was impressive for a squad that has only cleared the 80 percent threshold twice this season.

Kenyon’s offense was powered by a three-headed attack headlined by Jackson Maloney (24), Marius Mazeika (21), and Gefen Bar-Cohen (20). All three Owls surpassed the 20-point threshold, the first time that the Owls have had multiple 20-point scorers in a game since January 6, 2024. The program has not had three players pass the 20-point mark in over a decade.

The teams were locked in a back-and-forth battle through the first 12 minutes of action, and the home team led the Owls 24-22 at the 8:13 mark in the first frame. From there, Kenyon locked in and dominated the game, closing the half on a 30-16 run and never looking back.

Maloney poured in 11 points over the run and finished the first half with a whopping 18 points, setting a new season-high after just the first frame. The first-year finished with six triples, the team’s best long-distance shooting effort this season.

Mazeika, whose scoring also marked a season-high, and Bar-Cohen took over the scoring to start the second half, combining for all of Kenyon’s points over a 14-5 run that pushed the lead to 21 at 66-45 with 14 minutes remaining. The margin stood as Kenyon’s largest of the game.

Mazeika scored nine points over the stretch, while Bar-Cohen poured in five. Bar-Cohen, the team’s leading scorer, continued to shoulder the offensive load with all five of Kenyon’s subsequent points. The senior finished with 14 second-half points.

Mazeika also hauled in a game-high 15 rebounds, the first-year’s second double-double. Miles Versa boosted the Owls with nine points and a team-leading four assists. Murathan Kocaman corralled a season-high eight rebounds in 16 minutes off the bench, trailing only Mazeika on the boards.

Up next, Kenyon will welcome Wittenberg University (5-9, 1-4 NCAC) on Wednesday, January 15 in Gambier. The game will mark the second half of an Owls hoops doubleheader, with tipoff scheduled for 8 p.m. after a women’s game.

Check Also

OHSAA Swimming and Diving State Qualifiers Announced

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio High School Athletic Association’s first state tournament of the winter season …