Tigers Are Heading Back To The Sweet Sixteen

Photo Credit | Brian Swartz
Photo Credit | Brian Swartz
March 7, 2020
Box Score

Springfield, OH – For the first time since 2012, the Wittenberg University men's basketball team is heading back to the Sweet 16. The Tigers defeated Susquehanna University 77-73 from Pam Evans Smith Arena on Saturday night. The Tigers were led Connor Seipel on the night, posting his 19th double-double of the season with 33 points and 14 rebounds, adding four blocked shots with one steal and one assist to his total.  Seipel knocked down 12 of 16 shots from the floor, converting on 9 of 9 attempts from the charity stripe. Two fellow Tigers finished in double figures on the day with James Johnson adding 13 points with seven rebounds. Landon Martin added 12 points to the Tiger total, pulling down five rebounds and dishing out three assists. Wittenberg continued their offensive onslaught through the early going, knocking down 13 of 23 shots through the opening 20-minutes of action. The Tigers closed out the game shooting 50 percent from the field, converting on 28 of 55 attempts from the field. Wittenberg enjoyed their largest lead of the game, coming at 14 points with just under seven minutes remaining in regulation.

Wittenberg heads back to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2012, making their 17th appearance in program history. After taking down Susquehanna, the Tigers now hold a 17-11 record in Round of 32 games with a 54-29 overall record in NCAA DIII Tournament action.

Game Breakdown

Wittenberg was forced to overcome an early Susquehanna advantage after the first media timeout, with the River Hawks holding onto a 9-6 lead. The Red and White saw them down 22-14, coming up on the eight-minute media timeout as the Tigers looked for the offensive spark and Seipel was ready to provide that spark. Levi Boettcher would first get things going, knocking down a three off the assist from Jake Bertemes, bringing the score to 25-21. Seipel put up a pair of made free-throws, picking up an offensive rebound and a made layup to help keep the Tigers within four at the next media timeout. The eighth consecutive point from Seipel, coming off the steal from Rashaad Ali-Shakir knotted things up at 29-29. A steal by Martin with 2:05 left in the half led to another trip to the charity stripe for Seipel putting the Tigers ahead for the first time at 31-29. The Tigers capped off the first-half with the full-court pass from Bertemes to Seipel, leading to Seipel's first in-game dunk of his career, electrifying the crowd at Pam Evans Smith Arena. The Red and White took a 36-33 lead over Susquehanna into the break and all the momentum from the River Hawks. Bertemes wasted no time getting the scoring started for the Tigers in the second half, blowing by the Susquehanna defense for the layup. Seipel put in work at the defensive end, blocking Susquehanna shots, leading to a Johnson and-one layup, giving the Tigers the 46-37 lead. With back-to-back three's from Jordan Pumroy and Martin, Wittenberg extended their advantage out to 65-54 with just under seven and a half minutes in regulation. Susquehanna would fight back to within five at 67-62 with under two and half minutes to play. Wittenberg would cap the win with one final exciting play, as Bertemes found Johnson for the knock-down three, giving the Tigers the 73-66 advantage.

From The Bench

 

UP NEXT

Wittenberg will travel to Alliance, OH to take on Mount Union for the Sweet 16 on Friday, March 13. Tip-off against the Purple Raiders is set for 7:30 PM.