SPRINGFIELD, Ohio - The Wittenberg Tigers found tough travels against an Ohio Wesleyan program that has given them all sorts of trouble over the past several seasons. The home-standing Tigers dropped their second consecutive North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) outing, stymied at the offensive end in 63-48 loss.
After trading baskets in the opening minutes, Ohio Wesleyan methodically pulled away in the late stretches of the first half. A 14-point bulge at the intermission gave the Bishops plenty of room to cruise. Bishop point guard Rob Gardiner burned the Tigers for 13 points, including a number of baskets late in the shot clock, and Mitch Noggle came off the bench to hit perhaps the biggest shot of the night, a deep three-pointer at the 10:15 mark of the second half that turned a six-point Bishop lead into a nine-point cushion that soon expanded.
The Tigers could never find their stride against a stout Wesleyan defense, finishing the night 21 for 55 from the floor, including a frigid 2 for 15 from beyond the arc. Freshman wing Michael Cooper (Springfield, Ohio/South) was one of the rare Tigers with a productive night with 10 points on 5-of-8 shooting. Sophomore postLewis Buzzard (Columbus, Ohio/Franklin Heights) finished with six points and four boards off the bench to spark the Tiger big men.
At the other end, OWU attacked the Tiger basket, drawing 25 free throw attempts, making good on 23. The 19-point differential at the line more than proved to be the decisive factor in the game.
The loss sends the Tigers to 7-8 and 4-3 in the NCAC, as Head Coach Bill Brown's squad prepares for another tough conference battle when they travel to Gambier to take on the Kenyon Lords for a 3 p.m. tip this Saturday, Jan. 24.
Written By: Ben Bradley, SID Assistant