The Tiger men's basketball team couldn't quite keep pace with the women, dropping the first game of the 2002-03 NCAC season at nationally ranked Wooster on Saturday. Despite the loss, Wittenberg is just a game back in the standings heading into the second half of the round robin competition.
Heading into Wednesday's game against conference challenger Wabash, the Tigers were banged up with injuries and limping due to illness, and for nearly eight minutes of the first half they played like it. But showing the resilience one would expect from a two-time defending NCAC regular season champion, the Tigers scratched and clawed their way to a critical 62-47 victory.
The game was played as if the baskets had lids on them. The Tigers didn't score their first point until the 12:42 mark of the first half and didn't manage their first field goal until the 12:27 mark, after nine straight misfires. But Wabash managed little in the way of offensive production either and held a meager 5-0 lead when Wittenberg finally broke the scoring ice.
The Tigers took their first lead of the game, 10-9, at the 8:12 mark of the first half on a short jumper by senior forward Kevin Longley (Vandalia, Ohio/Butler) and never trailed again. The lead stretched out to 27-15 by halftime, thanks in part to a 19-6 burst to close things out in the final six minutes.
The Tigers held Wabash to 31 percent shooting from the field and owned a 44-26 rebounding advantage, including a career-high tying 15 from B.J. Harris (Riverside, Ohio/Stebbins). Sixteen of Wittenberg's rebounds came on the offensive end, including four by junior forward Peter Walker (Louisville, Ky./St. Xavier).
Sophomore guard Kenny Molz (Kettering, Ohio/Fairmont) led Wittenberg with 13 points off the bench, while Longley finished with 12 points and freshman forward Kenny Brady (Reading, Ohio/Reading) added 10 points off the bench.
Then on Saturday, the Tigers traveled to Wooster for a renewal of the most storied rivalries in all of college sports. Wittenberg played a near perfect first half, and even after struggling for nearly 15 minutes of the second half, was within striking distance at 62-58. But the ninth-ranked Scots ended the game on a 19-6 run to take an 81-64 victory.
Wittenberg, which shot just 32 percent from the field in the second half, including 1-for-9 from three-point range, was led by Longley, who had his best all-around game of the season with a team-high 17 points and five rebounds. Harris added 14 points and a game-high 11 rebounds for his second double-double of the season.
Next up for the Tigers is a tough game against Earlham and its up-tempo three-point shooting act at home on Wednesday night. Then they take to the road again next weekend for a contest at Allegheny.
Roundup: Tigers Take First Loss of the Season
Posted: Jan 08, 2003