#5 Tigers Thump Gators 87-58

#5 Wittenberg men’s hoops remained undefeated with an 87-58 win over the Gators of Allegheny College on Saturday.

#5 Tigers Thump Gators 87-58
January 20, 2018
Box Score

MEADVILLE, Pennsylvania—#5 Wittenberg men's hoops remained undefeated with an 87-58 win over the Gators of Allegheny College on Saturday. While the Tigers did not have the best shooting night from the perimeter, the Tigers' rim-protectors, Chad Roy and Connor Seipel, each tallied a double-double to lift Wittenberg past the Gators. The Tiger defense was the real story of Saturday's NCAC battle, as Wittenberg forced the Gators into 17 turnovers, and recorded eight steals. Now at 17-0 overall and 10-0 in NCAC league play, Wittenberg returns to Springfield for three consecutive home contests.

HOW IT HAPPENED: With under 10 minutes remaining in the first half, the Tigers' lead ballooned to 14 after James Johnson recorded a steal and a fast-break layup to put the Tigers up 26-12. Allegheny would claw back to trail by as few as nine points, but the Tigers regained momentum late in the first half, taking a 13-point lead into halftime. Out of the break, Wittenberg went up 20 after a pair of Seipel free-throws saw the score tilt to 48-28. Mitchell Balser connected on one of his four three-pointers with 10:47 remaining in regulation, as Wittenberg then led 64-43. With 8:29 remaining, Balser connected on another three, this time coming off an assist from Jacob Bertemes, as the Tigers held a commanding 73-45 lead. Colton Bachman splashed home a triple for the Tigers with 1:49 remaining, as the Tigers then had their biggest lead of the game at 86-53. At the final buzzer, Wittenberg found themselves up 87-58 for their 17th consecutive win.

WHO STOOD OUT: Balser paced the Tigers guard play on Saturday, as the junior was able to connect on six of his 13 attempts from the floor for 17 points. While Balser served as the game's leading scorer, Roy and Seipel each tallied double-doubles to push the Tigers past the Gators. Each shooting an even 50% from the floor, Roy finished Saturday's tilt with 16 points on six of 12 shooting while pulling down 10 boards. Seipel tallied 14 points on four of eight shooting while pulling down 13 boards for the red and white.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS: Wittenberg dominated the glass, outrebounding Allegheny 55-33, including 22 offensive rebounds to the Gators' eight. Leading by as many as 33 in the game, Wittenberg recorded 20 second-chance points to Allegheny's two, and managed to record assists on 15 of their 28 field goals. The Tigers also excelled at the charity stripe, connecting on 23 of 28 attempts for 82%, while Allegheny only recorded six attempts at the free-throw line in the game.

UP NEXT: Wittenberg returns to action on Wednesday, January 24, against the Tigers of DePauw. Tip-off from Pam Evans Smith Arena is set for 7:00 P.M.