Tigers Go Cold In Second Half Of Road Loss At DePauw
DePauw breaks open close game with 13-2 burst midway through second to pull away for 72-46 NCAC win over No. 9-ranked Wittenberg.
| Final | 1 | 2 | T |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
31 | 15 | 46 |
|
|
39 | 33 | 72 |
Team Stats
DePauw
| Game Statistics | Wittenberg | DePauw |
|---|---|---|
| Field Goals | (18-52) | (28-52) |
| Field Goal % | 34.6% | 53.8% |
| Rebounds | 21 | 37 |
| Assists | 5 | 14 |
| Turnovers | 14 | 12 |
| Pts off Turnovers | 12 | 18 |
| 2nd Chance Pts | 4 | 15 |
| Pts in the Paint | 22 | 36 |
| Fastbreak Pts | 0 | 2 |
| Bench Pts | 15 | 20 |
GREENCASTLE, Ind. - Over the course of an 11-game winning streak, the Wittenberg men's basketball team had shot the ball with great efficiency and dominated its opponents on the glass. The streak was snapped in most stunning and complete fashion by DePauw, which parlayed stifling defense and a stunning 16-rebound advantage into a 72-46 victory.
The loss left ninth-ranked Wittenberg, which had not been outrebounded all season, with records of 12-2 overall and 6-1 in the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC), heading into the Tigers' annual showdown against league-leading and second-ranked Wooster at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 18. DePauw improved to 11-3 overall and 6-1 in the NCAC, good for a second-place tie with Wittenberg.
The visiting Tigers led the game as late as the 6:23 mark of the first half, following a three-pointer by sophomore Alex Fultz (Cincinnati, Ohio/Glen Este). However, DePauw ended the opening 20 minutes on a 13-4 run to open up a 39-31 lead at the intermission and set the stage for a dominating second half.
After the teams traded baskets for the first five minutes of the second half, the host Tigers took control with a 13-2 burst that pushed the lead to 60-40 at the 8:09 mark. DePauw coasted from that point as Wittenberg managed just 23 percent shooting from the field in the second half.
While the visiting Tigers' poor shooting was a key factor, the difference in the game was undoubtedly rebounding. Wittenberg led the NCAC and ranked among the best in the nation with a +12 rebound margin coming into the game, but DePauw completely outworked the visiting Tigers by a difference of 37-21.
The lone Wittenberg player to reach double figures offensively in the game was senior post Scott Masin (New Carlisle, Ohio/Bethel), who finished with 10 points and five rebounds. Junior wing Sam Collins (Cleveland Heights, Ohio/Cleveland Heights) added eight points.
DePauw shot 54 percent for the game and converted 9-of-10 free throws. At the other end, the host Tigers held Wittenberg, which came into the game with the league's No. 1 ranked offense, 33 points below its season average.