SPRINGFIELD, Ohio – Sometimes, a little rest is just what the doctor ordered, and for junior Scott Masin (New Carlisle, Ohio/Bethel), the prescription was spot on. He posted his third double-double of the season and fifth of his career to lead Wittenberg to a 71-61 victory over Ohio Christian University on Saturday.
After suffering a broken nose during a win over Marietta on Wednesday, Nov. 28, Masin had the break reset on Monday and spent most of the week healing. When he jumped for the tip against Ohio Christian on Saturday, it was his first time playing basketball in a full week.
The time off did not slow Masin down, as he finished with 15 points and a career-high 15 rebounds against the Trailblazers, part of a 47-24 team rebounding advantage.
Despite the dominance on the boards and the team's solid 48 percent shooting, Ohio Christian managed to get back into the game after trailing 32-21 at halftime.
The Tigers' 21 turnovers and spotty free throw shooting became the primary factors in allowing the comeback, which culminated in a one-point, 60-59 margin for Wittenberg with just 2:28 remaining.
Prior to that, Wittenberg had been 11-for-21 at the free throw line, but Masin, junior Zack Leahy (Rossford, Ohio/Rossford) and sophomore Sam Collins (Cleveland Heights, Ohio/Cleveland Heights) combined to hit eight straight and nine of 10 total free throws over the last 148 seconds.
Over the same span, the Wittenberg defense held Ohio Christian to one field goal in eight attempts to seal the game.
Masin posted his fifth-straight and seventh overall game of the season in double figures. He was second in the team's scoring column only to Collins, who finished with 18 points, including an 8-9 mark at the line. Sophomore John Albertson (Morrow, Ohio/Little Miami) contributed a career-best 10 points and junior Cole Bond (Canton, Ohio/St. Thomas Aquinas) chipped in eight rebounds.
Masin will have another three days for the break to set before Wittenberg hosts UC Clermont at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 19.
John Strawn '07