SPRINGFIELD, Ohio - It is always hard-fought. It is always intense. It is almost always close. It's Wittenberg vs. Wooster men's basketball, and on this night, in an outstanding defensive struggle that typically went right down to the wire, the Tigers picked up the victory 61-55.

The win kept Wittenberg alive in the North Coast Athletic Conference regular season race, although its hopes of pulling off at least a share of a third straight title are still marginal at best. The Tigers improved to 12-2 in the NCAC and 17-5 overall, while Wooster, ranked No. 5 in the nation, dropped to 13-1 in the conference race and 21-2 overall.

This game provided the usual theatrics, starting with bruising, physical defensive play in the interior. Wittenberg led by as much as 11 points in the first half and as much as 13 in the second half. Wooster rallied to tie things just once in the entire game, on a three-pointer by Blake Mealer with 2:11 remaining in the second half. But the Tigers scored the final six points, with the go-ahead basket coming with 1:28 remaining on a lay-up by senior forward Kevin Longley (Vandalia, Ohio/Butler).

The key sequence of the final minute came when Wooster's Bryan Nelson made a steal near mid-court and drove the length of the court for looked like it would be the game-tying lay-up. But Tiger senior center B.J. Harris (Riverside, Ohio/Stebbins)chased Nelson down and forced the probable NCAC Player of the Year to alter his shot and miss it. After Wittenberg sophomore point guard Danny Brywczynski (Dayton, Ohio/Northmont) pulled down the rebound, the Scots were forced to begin fouling to stop the clock and the Tigers made their last four free throws.

Wittenberg, which avenged an 81-64 setback at Wooster on Jan. 22, was led by Longley's 15 points and eight rebounds. Harris finished with 14 points and six rebounds and junior guard Rod Emmons (South Bend, Ind./John Adams) chipped in with nine points and six boards. All three of his field goals were first-half three-pointers that helped the Tigers build the 11-point lead.

The Scots, who were beaten on the boards for just the fourth time all season, 36-28, was paced by 15 points from Mealer, 14 from freshman sensation Kyle Witucky and 13 from Nelson. Wooster shot 39 percent from the field, while Wittenberg hit 47 percent.