Oberlin, Ohio - DePauw closed a 16-point deficit to three, but Oberlin hung on for a 72-64 North Coast Athletic Conference win over the Tigers. DePauw dropped to 11-4 overall and 4-2 in the NCAC, while the Yeomen improved to 8-6 overall and 1-4 in conference play.
The Tigers scored the game's first six points before Oberlin scored the next nine. The Yeomen later used a 17-4 run to take its largest lead of the first half at 26-14 with just over six minutes left. After DePauw closed the gap back to single digits, the hosts scored the final five points of the half for a 35-21 advantage.
Oberlin opened the second half with a basket for its largest lead of the game. The Yeomen held a 41-28 lead early in the second, but DePauw scored seven straight at the start of a 12-2 run that closed Oberlin's lead to 43-40 with just over 13 minutes remaining.
An 11-1 stretch by the Yeomen pushed the margin back to 13 and it stayed in double figures until the closing minutes as DePauw closed to within six.
Reph Stevenson led DePauw with 14 points, nine rebounds and four assists, while
Brady Kunka followed with 12 and
Caleb Washington added 10.Â
Zach Smith paced Oberlin with 20 points and five assists with JJ Gray adding 10 points. Smith, Sam Kamenko and Milun Micanovic each grabbed five rebounds.
DePauw shot 42.5 percent from the field to Oberlin's 50.9 percent. The Tigers held a 31-27 rebounding edge and committed 17 turnovers to the Yeomen's 11.
DePauw hosts Denison on Jan. 14, at 6 p.m.
