The Oberlin men’s basketball team kicked off the week with their annual alumni game on Saturday. The contest pitted older alums such as George Bundy Smith, Jr., OC’87, and Chris Broussard, OC’90, against more recent players including Justin Perkins, OC’03, and Julius Hill, OC’04.

The game was an opportunity for players to reunite and served as an opener for Oberlin’s NCAC match-up against ninth place Hiram College.

Oberlin pounced on the Terriers within the first minute when sophomore Matt Kaplan found the basket with a three. Hiram responded quickly and led for the majority of the first half. Oberlin fought back and was able to tie the score at several points but halftime found the Yeomen down by seven, 32-39.

Kaplan kicked off scoring again in the second half with a lay-up to cut into Hiram’s lead. Oberlin was unable to gain momentum and allowed Hiram to go on a 9-0 run before sophomore Quinton Spencer’s jump shot collared the Terriers’ hot hands.

With Hiram leading by 14 points, the Yeomen had their work cut out for them. Field goals by Kaplan, Spencer and first-year Jordan Beard chipped away at Hiram’s advantage.

With five minutes left in the game, Beard knocked down a pair of foul shots to bring the Yeomen within one, 59-60.

A minute and a half later first-year guard Matthew Godwin fed the ball to fellow guard, senior Dewayne Evans, for a three pointer to tie the score at 64-64. The next time down the court, Godwin grabbed the ball for himself and drained a field goal, giving the Yeomen a 67-64 lead with 2:18 left.

The Yeo-Zone began chants of “defense” but they were quickly quelled when Hiram’s Carleton Dean hit a three pointer of his own to tie the score. As the clock ticked down both Godwin and Dean attempted follow-up shots but both missed the rim.

Following a Hiram turnover, Oberlin had the final possession but Beard’s off-balance shot failed to connect and the game headed into overtime.

Overtime proved just as tight as regulation. Kaplan’s two foul shots gave the Yeomen the initial lead but the Terriers answered back and knocked down four points of their own. Beard’s jumper tied the game at 71-71 but Dean’s three-pointer with three seconds left proved too much for Oberlin and the Yeomen fell 74-71.

Spencer registered a double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds. Beard led the team with 19 points while Godwin added 12 and Kaplan and Evans each put up 10. Oberlin was able to keep pace with the Terriers despite being out-rebounded 56-27.

Following the loss to Hiram last week, Oberlin had another close conference game against Allegheny, but this time the Yeomen came out on top, 66-62. The away win was significant for the Yeomen, since seventh- ranked Allegheny is the highest- ranked conference team Oberlin has beaten this season.

The teams traded the lead throughout the first half as Evans, Spencer and Beard all put up significant points for the Yeomen. With no team able to dominate by more than five, the half ended with Allegheny ahead 30-27.

Two minutes into the second half, Kaplan hit a three to tie the score 32-32. The Yeomen were unable to take the lead until Spencer’s jumper found the net with 14 minutes left. Allegheny kept attacking; it was not until Evans hit two free throws with 4:12 remaining that Oberlin was able to secure the lead. Godwin knocked down another pair of foul shots with six seconds remaining to seal the deal.

The Yeomen’s offensive accuracy was strong enough to overcome a 29-56 rebounding deficit. Spencer had a game-high 26 points, five rebounds, and Evans threw in 16 points, 6 rebounds.