CRAWFORDSVILLE, Ind. - All of the things that went so right during an eight-game win streak went the other direction for the Wittenberg Tigers, resulting in a 64-57 North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) loss at Wabash.
The Tigers, who were outrebounded for just the fourth time in 16 games in 2009-10 and shot less than 50 percent from the field for the first time in five games, dropped to 13-3 overall and 5-2 in the NCAC, dropping two games behind their next opponent, the College of Wooster. Wabash improved to 10-5 overall and, more importantly, moved into a second-place tie with the Tigers at 5-2 in the conference.
The Little Giants pulled away late, outscoring Wittenberg 15-5 over the final 8:13 until a three-pointer by freshman Steven Heatherly (Mishawaka, Ind./Mishawaka)with 37 seconds left in the game. Wittenberg missed 10 of its 12 shots before Heatherly's basket with the game already decided.
Wabash actually shot a similar percentage from the field, but the Little Giants attempted 10 more free throws, accounting for six additional points. More significantly, the Little Giants corralled 41 rebounds to Wittenberg's 33, including 16 offensive caroms to the Tigers' 12.
Junior wing Chris Sullivan (Columbus, Ohio/Upper Arlington) led the way offensive for Wittenberg with 16 points to go along with five rebounds. Three other players finished eight points off the bench - freshman wing David Hieber (Perrysburg, Ohio/Perrysburg), junior forward Lewis Buzzard (Columbus, Ohio/Franklin Heights) and sophomore forward Clayton Black (Lancaster, Ohio/Lancaster). Black added four rebounds and two assists.