GRANVILLE, Ohio (February 20, 2024) – Five Big Red players scored in double digits as the Denison University men's basketball team advanced to the semifinals of the North Coast Athletic Conference Tournament following a 78-62 win over Oberlin College in the quarterfinals on Tuesday evening inside Livingston Gymnasium.

Both teams entered the game with identical records of 14-11 overall and both successfully defended its home court against the other during the regular season, and this time the home-court advantage paid off for the Big Red, who shot 58.0 percent for the game, made five 3-pointers in each half, and limited the Yeomen to just five made 3-pointers for the game, all in the second half. It was very similar to Denison's first win over Oberlin this season when the Big Red connected on six 3-pointers in both halves while limiting the Yeomen to just six made 3-pointers for the game en route to earning a closer 86-80 victory at home (Dec. 6).

In this matchup, Denison took its first lead of the game (13-12) on a 3-pointer by Tyler Miller halfway through the opening period; and then back-to-back 3-pointers by Aidan King made it 21-18 Big Red with eight and a half minutes left in the first half.

A 3-pointer from the corner by Ricky Radtke with four minutes left in the first half made it a six-point Big Red lead (30-24), the largest lead of the opening period for either team.

Denison's fifth and final 3-pointer of the first half came just before the halftime buzzer courtesy of Cameron Smith, making it 36-32 Big Red at the intermission.

Despite Oberlin shooting over 60 percent from the field in the first half, the Big Red held the Yeomen to without a 3-point make, and then Denison came out on a mission in the second half, making each of its first five shots of the period and taking a nine-point lead (48-39) after a tough layup by Kellon Smith four minutes in.

After Oberlin's third 3-pointer cut Denison's lead to just three points (51-48) seven minutes into the second half, the Big Red rattled off seven straight points ending with a 3-pointer from the top of the key by Miller on the fourth assist of the game by Scotty Dean to make it a 10-point game (58-48) halfway through the period.

Two free throws by K. Smith then made it a 9-0 run and a 12-point lead (60-48) on the next possession for the Big Red, who were shooting 75 percent both from the field (9-15) and from three (3-4) at that point in the second half.

Denison continued to make it rain from long range as a three from top of the key by Radtke was followed two possessions later by a 3-pointer from the wing by Miller on the fifth assist from Dean to make it 70-57 with under five minutes left to play.

Aidan King added a layup to make it an 8-0 run and a 15-point lead (72-57) in the final four minutes, and then the finishing touch was a one-handed slam by K. Smith in transition in the final minute.

Despite Oberlin matching Denison with five made 3-pointers in the second half, the Big Red shot 16 for-26 (61.5 percent) from the field while limiting the Yeomen to 11-for-25 shooting (44.0 percent) in the period. Oberlin was also hampered by a 3-for-9 mark from the free throw line in the second half.

The balanced Denison attack was led by Miller with 15 points on 3-for-4 shooting from three, followed by K. Smith with a career-high 14 points, King with 12 points, Radtke with 11 points and Dean with 10.

Denison improves to 15-11 overall while Oberlin's season comes to an end with a 14-12 record. Denison has now advanced to the semifinals in fourth straight seasons and in seven of the last eight NCAC Tournaments.

With the win, the Big Red will face NCAC Champion and No. 1-seeded Wabash College (18-8) at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, February 23, in Crawfordsville, Indiana. Wabash has won the last two NCAC Tournaments.

This season, Denison defeated Wabash 73-65 on the road (Jan. 3) to improve to 5-0 in the NCAC at the time before falling 89-81 at home during its Senior Day exactly a month later (Feb. 3).