GREENCASTLE, Ind. – DePauw scored the game-tying free throws with one second left on the clock in regulation and then stunned visiting Wittenberg with a buzzer-beater to conclude the overtime period for a 68-66 North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) victory.
The loss was Wittenberg's second in a row and dropped the visiting Tigers to 12-6 overall and 5-4 in the NCAC. DePauw beat Wittenberg for the first time in two years as an NCAC member to improve matching 12-6 overall and 5-4 NCAC records.
The two sets of Tigers are now tied for third place in the conference standings with seven games remaining. DePauw and Wittenberg stand one game ahead of Hiram and Denison in the race for the final two home NCAC Tournament quarterfinal games.
DePauw shot 60 percent from the field in the first half to take a 36-33 lead into halftime, but the visiting Tigers battled back to take a 55-53 lead on a lay-up by junior Scott Masin (New Carlisle, Ohio/Bethel) with 16 seconds left in regulation. However, after sophomore Sam Collins (Cleveland Heights, Ohio/Cleveland Heights) blocked a DePauw shot, Masin was charged with a foul and the host Tigers' Barry Flynn knocked down a pair of free throws with one second remaining.
In overtime, DePauw held the lead until Wittenberg freshman Alex Fultz (Cincinnati, Ohio/Glen Este) tied the game with a three-pointer with five seconds remaining. After a DePauw timeout, however, the host Tigers' Alex Payne was credited with the game-winning jumper just before the final horn.
Wittenberg was paced offensively by junior Zack Leahy (Rossford, Ohio/Rossford) with a career-high 24 points to go along with five rebounds, three assists and three steals. Masin just missed another double-double with 18 points and nine rebounds.