Wheeler

MARIETTA, Ohio - Seth Stanley scored a game-high 31 points Friday, powering Hendrix, which is receiving votes for the Top 25, to an 80-78 win over No. 22 Wittenberg (Ohio) inside Ban Johnson Arena on the first day of the Great Lakes Invitational, hosted by Marietta (Ohio). The Warriors defeated their first ranked NCAA opponent in program history.

Hendrix (4-0) is off to its best start since the 2007-08 campaign when the Warriors also started 4-0. Hendrix's prior best start was 1995-96 with six-straight. The school record for wins to begin a season is 12, which occurred in the 1979-80 in 1932-33 campaigns.

Stanley registered his second-straight and eighth-career 30-point game, and the Warriors improved to 7-1 in those contests, having won seven-consecutive.

With his team trailing 78-77, Stanley drained a nine-foot jumper from the baseline and was fouled with five seconds left.



Stanley converted the old-fashioned 3-point play. A 32-foot 3-pointer by Rashaad Ali-Shakir as time expired hit off the back of the rim, preserving the Warriors' longest win streak since winning five-straight in 2014-15.

With the game tied at 41, Hendrix put together an 11-2 run. Stanley scored the first five points of the stretch, and a layup by Alex Conrad gave the Warriors their largest lead of the day, 53-43, with 15:02 to go in the contest.

Wittenberg (0-1) countered with a 15-5 run, knotting the affair at 58 with 10:54 on the clock following a Levi Boettcher triple. Five ties and eight lead changes would ensue down the stretch before Stanley's heroics. Stanley scored eight of his team's final 10 points in the last 2:43. The Tigers were held scoreless for the final 1:12, going 0-of-3 from the field, including two missed layups.

Stanley finished 9-of-17 overall from the floor, 4-of-7 from deep and 9-of-10 from the free throw line to go along with two blocks and a steal.

Conrad poured in 16 points on 6-of-10 shooting inside the lane in addition to eight rebounds. He shot 4-of-5 from the charity stripe. 

Jonathan Ryan dished out four assists in the triumph, while Stanley, Conrad and Carl Fitch each had two. Hendrix totaled 16 assists on 26 made baskets.

The Warriors shot 56.5 percent (13-of-23) in the first 20 minutes and 49.1 percent (26-of-53) for the game. Hendrix converted 41.2 percent (7-of-17) from 3-point range and 84 percent (21-of-25) from the free throw line.

The Warriors turned nine Tigers' miscues into 15 points and got 17 points from their reserves.

Ridge Young finished with 22 points in the loss, while Landon Martin had 17. Young shot 9-of-10 overall and 2-of-2 from beyond the arc and the line. Martin shot 6-of-15 overall and 3-of-3 from the stripe. Each played grabbed seven boards.

James Johnson tallied a double-double with 11 points and as many rebounds in defeat. Rashaad Ali-Shakir scored 10 points.

Young, Martin and Johnson each dished out three assists.

Wittenberg shot 42.9 percent (30-of-70) overall, 30 percent (9-of-30) from deep and 81.8 percent (9-of-11) from the free throw line. The Tigers shot just 29.4 percent (5-of-17) from beyond the arc in the second half.

Hendrix faces Wilmington (Ohio) on the final day of the Great Lakes Invitational. Tip-off on Saturday is set for noon CT.