OBERLIN, Ohio – The Wittenberg Tigers defeated Oberlin in men's basketball for the 47th straight time, powered by double-double performances from junior Scott Masin (New Carlisle, Ohio/Bethel) and sophomore Sam Collins (Cleveland Heights, Ohio/Cleveland Heights).
The Tigers overcame a slow start to extend the amazing win streak, which dates back to 1979. The win snapped a modest two-game losing streak as Wittenberg improved to 9-4 overall and 2-2 in the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC), compared to records of 4-8 overall and 2-2 in the NCAC for the Yeomen.
Oberlin led the game by as many as eight points in the first half before Wittenberg got its offense untracked, finishing the opening 20 minutes on a 19-8 run to take a 27-24 advantage into the locker room. Masin led the way, hitting all six of his shots in the first half.
After missing all three of their three-point attempts in the first half, the Tigers continued to improve their offensive efficiency as the game progressed to pull away. Masin finished 7-of-8 for the game to go along with 5-of-6 on free throws for a team-high total of 19 points. He was joined in double figures by Collins, who hit 7-of-11 from the field for 14 points.
The Tigers hit 58 percent of their shots in the second half and 23-of-43 for the game overall, including 4-of-8 from long distance over the final 20 minutes. Junior Steven Newell (Englewood, Ohio/Northmont) hit two of the treys en route to a solid eight-point, three-assists, two-steal night.
The other key factor in the game was Wittenberg's rebounding advantage, as the Tigers won that battle by a whopping 43-17 margin. Masin led both teams with 11 boards, while Collins added 10 and junior guard Zack Leahy (Rossford, Ohio/Rossford) chipped in with eight, including four at the offensive end.
The Tigers are in the middle of a stretch of four games in seven days, which continues on Wednesday with a home date opposite NCAC rival Kenyon. Tip time is 7:30 p.m., and the Tiger Sports Network has all the action, including live stats, video and audio.