HIRAM, Ohio - It was not as easy as some might have expected, but the 18th-ranked Wittenberg Tigers found a way to get it done, fending off a stern challenge from the homestanding Hiram Terriers, 75-57, on Saturday night. The Tigers improved to 18-3 overall and 12-0 in the North Coast Athletic Conference with the win, while Hiram dropped to 4-16 and 2-10 respectively.

The key to the game was free throw shooting. Both teams shot exceptionally well from the charity stripe, but the Tigers attempted 19 more shots from that location, resulting in 16 extra points. Hiram hit all nine of its free throws, while Wittenberg drained 25-of-28.

Wittenberg held the lead from the opening tip, scoring on four of its first five possessions to take an 8-0 lead out of the gate. The Tigers stretched the lead to as much as 15 during the first half before heading into the locker room with a 35-25 lead. The second half opened with the Terriers on a 15-6 run to whittle the lead down to 41-40. The teams traded baskets for several minutes before the Tigers finally opened some breathing room back up with a seven-point run that moved the lead from one to eight points at the 7:22 mark. Hiram could get no closer than six points the rest of the way as the Tigers hit all eight free throws down the stretch.

Wittenberg put four players in double figures, led by sophomore center Daniel Russ (Louisville, Ky./Trinity) with 17 points and eight rebounds. Junior forward Andy Bucheit (Cincinnati, Ohio/LaSalle) added 15 points and seven rebounds in 23 productive minutes off the bench, sophomore forward Kenny Brady (Reading, Ohio/Reading) chipped in with 12 points and five rebounds, and senior forward Peter Walker (Louisville, Ky./St. Xavier) checked in with 10 points. The Tigers won the rebounding battle decisively, 38-22, and also won the ballhandling battle, committing 11 turnovers to 15 for the Terriers.

Hiram, which lost for the 32nd time to Wittenberg, got 13 points each from Brandon Pool and A.J. White.