Freshman Elijah Meredith provided an offensive spark in his first collegiate start, yet it wasn't enough to lift The College of Wooster's men's basketball team past Ohio Wesleyan University on Thursday evening at Branch Rickey Arena in Delaware, Ohio, as the Battling Bishops took game one from the Fighting Scots 83-66.

Fueled by Meredith, Thursday's onset was a positive segment for Wooster (2-4), with the Scots' rookie accounting for the team's first eight points. First, the forward finished at the rim off an assist from classmate Carter Warstler, who was also making his first collegiate start. Then, Meredith stretched Ohio Wesleyan's (4-5) defense with a pair of three-pointers, the second of which put Wooster up 8-7 at the 17:20 mark. On its next possesion, Wooster junior Brandon Styers converted at the rim with a lay-in that upped the lead to 10-7.

Ohio Wesleyan hit its stride soon after, with Ryan Sheridan's three-pointer knotting the game at 10, and the Bishops hit 11 of their next 15 field goals, with Zane Ries staking his team to a 35-25 lead at the end of that stretch. A 6-for-7 stretch from the floor over the final 4:46 of the half upped Ohio Wesleyan's lead to 51-32.

Elijah Meredith scored 29 points in his first collegiate start. Photo by Matt Dilyard.

A layup and two Meredith three-pointers headlined Wooster's strongest second-half stretch, as the Scots went on a 10-0 run with 6:20 remaining. Junior Najee Hardaway, who assisted on both Meredith three-balls, capped the run with a fast-break lay-in off an Ohio Wesleyan missed three-pointer.

Meredith scored 29 points on 11-of-18 shooting, which included a 4-of-7 night from range. The Scots' big man added four rebounds.

Styers chipped in nine points and a team-high six rebounds, while Hardaway and freshman Khalil Wilson scored six points each.

Wooster shot just 38.7 percent (24-of-62), but the Scots did have a season-low nine turnovers.

Nick Carlson's 19 points led a quintet of Bishops in double figures. Grant Spicer posted a double-double with 12 points and 12 boards.

Ohio Wesleyan shot 56.5 percent (35-of-62) for the game, which included a 24-of-34 mark from inside the arc in the first half. Ohio Wesleyan dominated on the glass, finishing with 11 more boards than Wooster.

Wooster and Ohio Wesleyan are set to meet again on Saturday, March 6 at Timken Gymnasium at 3 p.m. Prior to the game, Wooster will honor its two seniors – Joey Passodelis and student assistant Jack Stevens.