Tigers Take Win Over NCAC Leaders

Springfield, OH - The Wittenberg Tigers welcomed North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC)-leading Wabash Little Giants to Pam Evans Smith Arena as they looked to get back on track after a weekend loss at Oberlin. Despite a spirited second half rally by the Little Giants, Wittenberg pulled away for a clutch 73-65 win, improving to 5-3 in conference play and moving into a third-place tie, just one game out of first.

The Tigers came into the game with six losses in the last eight games against Wabash, including three straight losses to the Little Giants. However, the Tigers were up to the task this time, displaying an efficient offense with nearly 50 percent shooting and tenacious work on the boards that led to a 31-23 rebounding advantage as Wittenberg improved to 12-5 overall. Wabash fell to 6-2 in the league and 12-5 overall.

The Tigers enjoyed a red-hot start to the game, doubling the Little Giants' score, 24-12, halfway into the first half. Noah Frayer (Odenton, MD / SPIRE Academy) had the hot hand early, draining two threes and a couple of two-point jumpers to total 10 points in as many minutes. Once again, Jace Wardlow (Bowling Green, KY / Bowling Green) added another gear to the tiger offense, scoring seven straight points in two minutes to make the Wittenberg lead 33-21 with five minutes remaining. The remainder of the half consisted of Wabash trying to claw their way back, as the Tigers headed to the locker room at half with a 38-32 lead.

Coming out of the second half, Wittenberg continued to score, with two points each from Eddie Brown (Lewis Center, OH / Olentangy Orange), Dawson Scott (New Castle, IN / New Castle) and Cal Bavineau (Dexter, MI / Dexter) in the first two minutes. After trading buckets, Wabash fought their way back to a tie at 55 with eight minutes remaining. Those last eight minutes were packed with fouls from both teams and plenty of free throw attempts. The momentum completely flipped in favor of Wittenberg when Tyler Galluch (Springfield, OH / Catholic Central) put the Tigers up nine with a three-point play that proved to be the dagger.

Team Leaders

• Four Tigers scored in double-figures, led by Galluch with 16, Frayer with 12, and Brown and Wardlow each with 11. 
• Brown and Scott ate up the glass with seven rebounds each, while Bavineau paced the team in assists with three. 
• Bavineau logged the lone steal for the Tigers while three separate Tigers each rejected a shot.

Team Comparison

• Wittenberg shot 21-43 (48.8%) from the field, 6-15 (40%) from deep and 25-29 (86.2%) from the charity stripe. The Tigers grabbed 31 rebounds, logged six turnovers and turned the ball over eight times. They scored four points off turnovers, eight second chance points and scored 24 points in the paint with 17 bench points.
• Wabash shot 26-62 (41.9%) overall, 3-16 (18.8%) from three-point range and 10-12 (83.3%) from the line. The Little Giants pulled down 23 rebounds, assisted on five shots and turned the ball over five times. They cashed in on nine points off turnovers and 13 second chance points while putting up 42 points in the paint and 14 off the bench.

Next Up

The Tigers will look to build on their win as they take on the Ohio Wesleyan Battling Bishops on Saturday, January 24 at 1:00 at Pam Evans Smith Arena.