OBERLIN, Ohio (January 31, 2024) – Cameron Smith scored a career-high 25 points, but it would not be enough as the Denison University men's basketball team fell out of a tie for first place in the North Coast Athletic Conference standings entering the final month of the season after falling by a final score of 75-68 on the road at Oberlin College on Wednesday night inside Phillips Gymnasium.

For its second game in a row, Oberlin (11-9 overall, 5-6 NCAC) defended its home court against a team tied for first place in the NCAC at the time and snapped an extended losing streak against its opponent. Last Wednesday it was a 10-point win (77-67) for Oberlin over Wittenberg University, marking the Yeomen's first win against the Tigers since November 15, 2014, and snapping an 18-game skid against Wittenberg. Then the current matchup against Denison (12-9, 8-4) saw Oberlin end its seven-game losing streak against the Big Red and earn its first win in the series since February 2, 2019.

Both teams started 8-for-12, 7-for-16 and 12-for-21 from the field, but four of Denison's first 12 makes were 3-pointers (4-9) while the Yeomen started 0-for-4 from long range.

Denison's fourth 3-pointer of the first half came courtesy of Scotty Dean, making it 30-23 Big Red with under six minutes left until halftime.

Oberlin, however, came back to tie it at 30-30 and then proceeded to limit Denison to just four points for the rest of the first half while taking a 39-34 lead into the break.

Despite just one made 3-pointer in the first half, Oberlin finished the opening period shooting 61.5 percent (16-26) from the field.

That one 3-pointer, however, was a gut punch for the Big Red as it came in the final minute of the first half to give the Yeomen the momentum headed into the second half, and Oberlin took advantage with a 10-0 start to the period ending with back-to-back 3-pointers a take a 15-point lead (49-34) three and a half minutes in. After holding Denison scoreless for the final 2:21 of the first half, the Yeomen picked up right where they left off and held the Big Red off the scoreboard until the 16:22 mark of the second half.

Then trailing by 10 points (61-51) entering the final six minutes of the game, a 3-pointer by Aidan King and a jumper by C. Smith helped Denison cut its deficit to four (61-57) with four minutes left; and then C. Smith continued to almost singlehandedly bring the Big Red back with a 3-pointer followed by a steal and a fastbreak layup to make it just a one-point game (63-62) with under three minutes remaining.

Unfortunately, Oberlin answered with back-to-back layups, and then after two free throws by Tyler Miller made it a three-point game (67-64) with just under a minute and a half left, Oberlin never let Denison get an opportunity to go for the tie as the Yeomen sank eight straight free throws to close out the win. Denison also missed four 3-pointers in the final minute trying to get the deficit down to two points.

Ultimately what did the Big Red in was a strong shooting performance from the field for the Yeomen, who missed just 20 shots (27-47; 57.4 percent) in the game. Oberlin also went 18-for-22 (81.8 percent) from the free throw line while Denison connected on just six of its 32 attempts from three (18.8 percent) and also left seven points on the free throw line, going 10-of-17 (58.8 percent).

C. Smith scored his 25 points on 11-for-14 shooting overall and a 2-for-4 mark from three. He was the only player with more than one made 3-pointer in the contest.

Coming off the bench for the Big Red was Miller with 16 points on 5-for-10 shooting while King added 11 points.

For the second season in a row, Denison will host Wabash College for its Senior Day. This time around, the two teams will square off starting at 2 p.m. on Saturday, February 3, inside Livingston Gymnasium.