CLEVELAND, Ohio - The way sophomore Andy Bucheit (Cincinnati, Ohio/LaSalle) is shooting right now, it only makes sense that his coach is going to find more opportunities to put the ball in his hands. Against the Case Western Reserve University Spartans, Bucheit was outstanding in his first career start, canning 9-of-12 shots from the field, including another blistering performance from three-point range, as he led the Tigers to a 72-57 victory.

Bucheit hit 4-of-5 three-pointers in the game, but he made his biggest mark at the game's outset. After senior forward Kevin Longley (Vandalia, Ohio/Butler) started the game off with a basket, Bucheit took over, scoring the next 12 points to stake the Tigers to a stunning 14-0 lead just three minutes in. Bucheit hit another three-pointer at the 10:19 mark of the first half and sophomore guard Kenny Molz (Kettering, Ohio/Fairmont) added a basket seconds later to give Wittenberg what would turn out to be its largest lead at 28-8.

Wittenberg, which never trailed in the game and held a lead of at least nine points for 38 of the 40 minutes, was led by Bucheit's 24 points. Freshman center Daniel Russ (Louisville, Ky./Trinity) was outstanding once again off the bench, hitting for 15 points. And senior center B.J. Harris (Riverside, Ohio/Stebbins) added 10 points and seven rebounds.

The Tigers are back in action on Saturday, home in the friendly confines of the HPER Center for the first time since Dec. 7, against Oberlin College. The NCAC match-up pits the now 6-3 Tigers opposite the 0-8 Yeomen.