ST. LOUIS, Mo. - The Wittenberg Tigers made the long trip to St. Louis, Mo., for the Washington University Lopata Classic and came away with a solid season-opening victory over Whittier College in the first round by a score of 73-55.

Senior Andy Bucheit set the tone with a three-pointer to open the game and the Tigers never looked back. Wittenberg never gave up the lead, easing out to a 33-25 halftime lead and then putting the game away with a 17-2 run midway through the second half that stretched a five-point lead into a 55-35 advantage.

Bucheit and senior Danny Brywczynski each drained four three-pointers in the game and finished with 16 and 14 points respectively. As a team, the Tigers were scalding hot with 12-of-16 three-point shooting. Junior post players Dane Borchers and Daniel Russ were solid on the interior as a balance to the hot outside shooting. Borchers started and finished with 14 points and nine rebounds, while Russ, who has been nursing a leg injury, finished with 10 boards off the bench.

Playing without the services of 2004 second-team All-North Coast Athletic Conference honoree Kenny Brady, who is out with an injury, the Tigers shot 59 percent from the field in the decisive second half and held a commanding 41-23 rebounding advantage.

The Tigers play the winner of the second semifinal game between Washington University and Tufts on Saturday.