BEXLEY, Ohio – The Wittenberg men's basketball team is full of talent, there's no doubt about that. But the Tigers are still in search of their first win of the season following a 63-46 loss at Capital University on Tuesday night.
As any young team might find, learning to put together a complete game can take time. After struggling from the free throw line in a season-opening loss to Oberlin on Saturday, Wittenberg was ailed on this night by trouble from the field.
The Crusaders held Wittenberg to 28 percent shooting, though it proved the only major weakness: Wittenberg held a 36-35 advantage in rebounding and erased any worry about free throw shooting with a 13-for-16 performance at the stripe.
Wittenberg jumped out to a 4-0 lead to start the game as sophomore Cody Phillipi (Xenia, Ohio/Xenia) made two free throws and dropped in a layup, and a basket by freshman Chad Roy (Toledo, Ohio/Holland Springfield) put the Tigers up 6-2 early. But the lead was short-lived as Capital scored the next nine points.
Wittenberg closed the gap to 12-13 with six-straight points, but that was the closest it would be for the duration. Capital scored 20 points before the end of the half to take a 33-17 lead to the locker room.
The Tigers opened the second half with a 7-2 run that included a pair of buckets for sophomore Jaelin Williams (Springfield, Ohio/Shawnee). The Crusaders responded, locking down to hold off each Wittenberg push throughout the remainder of the game.
The deep well of talent present on the Tiger roster was evident tonight most strongly in Williams, who sank 6-of-11 shots from the field and 4-of-5 from the free throw line to finish with a team-best 17 points. Williams finished second in the rebounding column with seven, behind only junior Alex Fultz (Cincinnati, Ohio/Glen Este) with nine boards, including four offensive rebounds.
Freshman Troy Mundy (Blacklick, Ohio/Gahanna Lincoln) played 23 minutes off the bench, contributing eight points with two steals.
The Tigers next travel to Maryland for the Hoopsville National Invitational Classic presented by Buffalo Wild Wings at Stevenson's Owings Mills Gymnasium on Friday, Nov. 21, and Saturday, Nov. 22. Wittenberg opens against host Stevenson at 8 p.m. on Friday and challenge Randolph-Macon at 8 p.m. the next evening.
John Strawn '07