Tigers win Rokicki Challenge

The DePauw University men's basketball team captured the Mike Rokicki Community vs. Cancer Challenge championship Saturday with an 85-79 win over Ohio Wesleyan.

DPU led by as many as 17 in the second half after a 14-1 run pushed the Tigers' lead to 69-52.

DePauw shot nearly 70 percent from the field in the first half while the Battling Bishops connected on just more than 60 percent of their own shots from the floor.

The Tigers' lead was slim heading into the halftime break, though, as DPU Led OWU by four, 46-42.

Ohio Wesleyan came within one point of the Tigers twice in the second half, but the Tigers pushed their offense into overdrive, outscoring the Bishops 21-5 over a seven-minute time frame that gave DePauw its 17-point lead.

The Tigers were ahead by 15 with about eight minutes remaining in regulation, but the Bishops went on an 8-0 run to close the gap to seven.

But the Tigers were able to fend off the run, and Ohio Wesleyan weren't able to close the gap to less than five points for the duration of the contest.

Austin Brown led DePauw with a career-high 23 points and was named the tournament's most valuable player.

Mike Moore had 15 points in Saturday's contest, and Ryan Werntz put in 14 points.

On the boards, DPU's Stephen Schott led the way, pulling down eight rebounds for the Tigers.

The DePauw junior also scored nine points and was named to the all-tournament team.

Kyle Holliday led the Bishops with 18 points, and Matt Shirer and Ben Chojnacki each had 15 points.

Chojnacki had seven rebounds to pace the Bishops on the boards and was also named to the all-tourney squad.

The tournament's consolation game between Illinois Wesleyan and Judson College wasn't even close, as IWU topped the Eagles 92-50.

Zach Freeman led the Titans with 29 points and 16 boards while Anthony Cawthon led the Eagles with 15 points.

The Tigers (3-1) will be in action again Tuesday when they host Wabash at 7:30 p.m.

At DePauw

OHIO WESLEYAN (79) -- Shirer 5-10 3-4 15, Teeters 1-6 0-0 2, Uritus 2-4 0-0 6, Chojnacki 6-9 0-0 15, Rudegeair 3-5 2-5 8, Gardiner 0-2 0-1 0, Holliday 7-7 3-4 18, Cafarella 2-5 2-2 8, Miller 0-0 0-0 0, Jean 2-3 3-4 7. 28-51 FG 13-20 FT 79 TP.

DEPAUW (85) -- Brown 7-11 8-9 23, Moore 4-9 4-9 15, Schott 2-7 1-2 9, Sakel 3-5 0-0 8, McDonald 1-3 0-0 2, James 1-3 3-4 5, Werntz 3-6 5-6 14, Oilar 3-3 2-2 9, Gifford 0-0 0-0 0. 26-47 FG 23-32 FT 85 TP.

Next Game -- The Tigers (3-1) will take the court again Tuesday when they host the Wabash Little Giants for a 7:30 p.m. start.