SPRINGFIELD, Ohio - Old habits die hard, especially ones that have proven to be this effective. Once again enjoying a huge second half, the Wittenberg Tigers overwhelmed visiting Franklin College 75-44 on Thursday night at HPER Center in NCAA Division III tournament action.
For the 10th straight game, Wittenberg outscored its foes in the second 20 minutes of action, this time expanding a 27-19 halftime lead to 48-20 with 13 minutes remaining in the game. By the time the Grizzlies, champions of the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference who concluded their season at 20-9, recovered the game was too far out of reach.
The game was billed as a contrast of styles between the big, inside-oriented Tigers, who lead the nation in rebounding margin for a second straight year, and the Grizzlies, winners of eight straight games on the strength of a high-scoring fast-break, guard-oriented offense. Wittenberg's inside strength turned out to be the difference as the Tigers, who improved to 26-3 on the season, outrebounded the Grizzlies 46-23 and held Franklin to just 44 points, 39 below their season average.
Wittenberg was paced by another oustanding performance by junior forward/center B.J. Harris, who turned in his 11th double-double of the season with 19 points and 13 rebounds. When Harris wasn't punishing the Grizzlies in the paint, junior forward Kevin Longley was hitting for 10 points and five rebounds before departing with an ankle injury in the second half, and senior center Brian Gratsch was coming off the bench to pour in 10 points and six boards.
The Grizzlies were led by Jed Zarse, who finished with 10 points and six rebounds. No other Franklin player hit for double figures as the team shot just 33 percent from the field, 20 percent from three-point range and 55 percent from the free throw line. Wittenberg, by contrast, was sharp in hitting 53 percent from the field.
The win advances Wittenberg, which has now won 11 straight games dating back to Jan. 23 at Wabash College, to the second round of the NCAA Division III tournament for a second straight year and a date with sixth-ranked DePauw University in Greencastle, Ind. at 7 p.m. on Saturday, March 2.