GRANVILLE, Ohio (Feb. 28) – The top-seeded Denison men's basketball team survived a tightly contested battle, holding off Ohio Wesleyan 74-70 inside Livingston Gymnasium to advance to the NCAC Championship game. After earning a bye in the first round, the Big Red battled through 16 lead changes before locking down defensively in the final minutes to secure the win.

Denison (23-3) used a balanced offensive attack to outlast Ohio Wesleyan, with Cameron Smith leading the way with 16 points and seven rebounds on an efficient 5-of-6 shooting performance. Darren Rubin added 15 points, including a pair of clutch free throws late, while Aidan King provided a key spark off the bench with 13 points and seven boards.

The back-and-forth battle saw Ohio Wesleyan (15-12) take advantage of its perimeter shooting, knocking down 15 three-pointers at a 48.4 percent clip. Henry Hinkle led all scorers with 27 points, including four triples, while Tony Carter chipped in 17 points on 5-of-6 shooting from beyond the arc.

With under two minutes remaining and Denison clinging to a one-point lead, Rubin hit a tough jumper to put the Big Red ahead 68-67. The Big Red then forced a critical turnover, leading to two made free throws from Rubin to extend the advantage. Ohio Wesleyan had one last chance to tie the game, but Denison's defense locked in, forcing a contested three-pointer that missed. Smith grabbed the rebound and sank four straight free throws in the closing seconds to put the game out of reach.

Denison's defense stepped up in key moments, forcing 10 turnovers and converting them into 13 points. The Big Red also capitalized on second-chance opportunities, outscoring the Battling Bishops 9-5 in that category.

With the win, Denison secures its spot in the NCAC Championship game and will host The College of Wooster on Saturday at 4:00 p.m. inside Livingston Gymnasium, looking to claim the conference title.