GAMBIER, Ohio -- In a spirited men's basketball Alumni Weekend showdown at Tomsich Arena, the Kenyon College Owls came up just short against the DePauw University Tigers, falling 59-56 in what proved to be another thrilling chapter in this conference rivalry. The loss moves Kenyon to 3-15 overall and 1-8 in North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) play, while DePauw advances to 9-9 and 5-4 in conference action.

The story of the game was the dramatic performance of senior Gefen Bar-Cohen, who almost single-handedly kept the Owls' hopes alive by scoring 10 of the team's final 12 points. His clutch shooting and leadership down the stretch exemplified his dominant performances this season. 

The game also marked an emotional return for senior Juan Sergio Matabuena, who stepped back onto the court for the first time since injuries have sidelined him since early last season. Matabuena made his presence felt immediately, contributing five points and delivering a crucial assist to Bar-Cohen for a late three-pointer that energized the home crowd.

History seemed to repeat itself as the teams battled in another nail-biter, reminiscent of their earlier meeting this season when DePauw claimed a three-point, overtime victory. The outcome of both of these games shows two evenly matched conference teams, and the stretch of tight games extends even further as three of the last four meetings have been decided by three points and five of the last seven matchups have been separated by one possession.

The Tigers seized early momentum with a commanding 28-9 run in the first half, but the Owls refused to fold. Despite missing their first nine triples and shooting just 1-for-13 from long range in the first frame, Kenyon's resilience shone through in the second half as the home team mounted an impressive 22-11 comeback run, turning what could have been a comfortable DePauw victory into a dramatic finish. 

Both teams displayed sharpshooting prowess from beyond the arc in the second half, with Kenyon hitting 35.7 percent (5-14) and DePauw connecting at a scorching 66.7% clip (4-6). The Owls also took over on the boards in the half, outrebounding the Tigers 21-10, including a 7-1 edge on the offensive glass. 

The visitors left a lot of points at the free-throw line with eight misses (4-12) in the half, opening the door for Kenyon's comeback. A miss at the charity stripe with 07 seconds left gave the home team hope for a game-tying triple, but the full-court heave was off the mark as DePauw held on for the three-point win.

First-years Jackson Maloney and Marius Mazeika supplied supporting performances with nine points apiece despite facing a tough defense that limited their efficiency. Sam Lieberman, a senior, bolstered the Owls' shooting effort, making a team-high 75 percent (3-4) of his shots en route to seven points off the bench. Mazeika also grabbed a team-leading eight rebounds, while junior guard Nick Nelson nabbed seven boards. Nelson also handed out four assists and snagged three steals, both game-highs.

DePauw countered with balanced scoring from the trio of Reph Stevenson (13 points), Caleb Washington (11), and Joe Smith (10) who all reached double figures. Stevenson also secured a game-high 11 rebounds for a double-double, and he added a team-leading three assists.

Kenyon returns to action Wednesday, January 29, at 7 p.m., hosting Ohio Wesleyan (11-7, 6-3 NCAC) at Tomsich Arena. The matchup takes on special meaning as part of the Coaches vs. Cancer initiative, combining competitive conference basketball with a worthy cause.