Collins, Tigers Keep Oberlin From Rewriting History

SPRINGFIELD, Ohio – In an all-time series dominated by Wittenberg victories to the tune of 71-6 since 1911 and an average margin of victory of 23.5 points over the last five seasons, the Tigers' close 51-47 victory over Oberlin will likely stand out.

Add the fact that Oberlin has not beaten Wittenberg since 1979, and that Saturday's result is the closest the Yeomen have come to breaking the streak since it began, and it becomes clearer that this game will indeed stand out.

Fortunately for Wittenberg, one Tiger did more than stand out. On a night when his team shot 38 percent from the field, including 2-of-16 from three-point range, sophomore Sam Collins (Cleveland Heights, Ohio/Cleveland Heights) bucked the trend and went 10-for-14 from the field (71.4 percent) for 21 points. He added four rebounds, two steals, an assist and a block.

Of those totals, nine points, two steals and a block came over the final nine minutes of the game, a period which Wittenberg entered trailing Oberlin 36-35 before Collins threw down a dunk off a steal and feed from senior Cam Walton (Waterville, Ohio/Anthony Wayne).

The Yeomen and Tigers were tied twice down the stretch, at 42- and 44-all. Out of the second tie, junior Zack Leahy (Rossford, Ohio/Rossford) earned two points at the line and then stole the ball back, feeding out to Collins for a layup to make it 48-44 with 3:22 remaining.

Ball-handling issues on both sides led to more than two minutes expiring without any scoring before Oberlin's Andrew Fox converted an and-one opportunity to make it a one-point game with 1:11 on the clock.

The Tigers found themselves headed to the free throw line to defend their small advantage as the clock dwindled to 25 seconds. Leahy and Collins each split their trips to give the Tigers a three-point bump and 16 seconds to defend it.

The Yeomen got the play they wanted, an open three-point look, but the attempt with six seconds left fell short of the rim and stopped the clock out of bounds. Oberlin fouled Walton with three seconds left, and he split two free throws to seal the result.

Collins was joined in double-figures by Leahy, who finished with 13 points by virtue of 11 made free throws, and junior Scott Masin (New Carlisle, Ohio/Bethel), who was 3-for-7 from the field and 4-for-8 at the line while hauling in a team-high 10 rebounds for his ninth double-double of the season.

At the time of the last NCAA statistical release on Jan. 24, Masin ranked  in a tie for 23^rd in NCAA Division III with eight double-doubles.

The Tigers outrebounded Oberlin 35-25 led by Masin's effort on the boards, supported by seven from Leahy.

Wittenberg continues the NCAC schedule at Ohio Wesleyan on Wednesday, Jan. 30^th, with tip-off slated for 7:30 p.m. from Branch Rickey Arena in Delaware, Ohio.

John Strawn '07