SPRINGFIELD, Ohio—Instant classic is one way to describe the #5 Tigers (23-2, 16-2) and the #16 Fighting Scots (20-5, 14-4) 116th battle on the hardwood. In a game where Wooster controlled the momentum for a majority of the contest, the Tigers came back from a ten-point deficit with 1:24 remaining in regulation behind the incredibly hot hand of Jacob Bertemes. Wittenberg fans and Wooster fans alike saw a comeback for the ages, that resulted in a 78-77 win in overtime for Wittenberg.
HOW IT HAPPENED: Wittenberg trailed 33-24 at the break, as Wooster had the Tiger's number on both ends of the floor on Saturday night. Wittenberg was down, but not out while trailing 62-52 with 1:42 remaining in regulation. Free throws from James Johnson and Jordan Pumroy cut the lead to four at 62-58 with 1:00 remaining, before a pair of Wooster free throws pushed the lead back to six. After a Landon Martin layup with :15 seconds remaining, Wooster's point guard Spencer Williams missed a pair of free throws, allowing Bertemes to drive the length of the floor, after pulling down the board, for an easy layup. Down 66-64, Wooster again took a trip to the free-throw line, making one of two, as Bertemes again drove the length of the floor, this time splashing home a three at the buzzer to send the game into overtime at 67-67. Right out of the gates in overtime, Bertemes drove to the hoop off a Chad Roy screen, drawing a foul as his layup banked in high off the glass. Roy gave the Tigers the lead again at 72-71 with two made free-throws with 1:34 remaining. Down 77-75, it was déjà vu from this point on, as Bertemes took the ball off a missed Wooster free throw the length of the floor, connecting on a layup while drawing a foul. As Pam Evans Smith erupted with the game tied at 77-77, Bertemes splashed home the go-ahead free-throw with :0.3 ticks remaining on the clock. After the Wooster hail-mary inbounds pass hit the old hanging scoreboard of The Pam, Mitch Balser simply inbounded the ball off one of his old teammate's feet as the Tigers gained posession, and more importantly, the game.
WHO STOOD OUT: After scoring seven points in the first half, Bertemes exploded in the second half and overtime for 26 points. Roy chipped in ten points, while Balser poured in nine for the Tigers while Johnson also chipped in nine off the bench. Johnson led the Tigers with eight boards to lead Wittenberg.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS: Wittenberg and Wooster both shot 30% from behind the three-point line, as Wittenberg edged out Wooster 42-34 in the rebounding battle. Wittenberg's bench outscored Wooster 29-17 in a game where Wooster led by as many as 12 in regulation. Despite 17 turnovers, the Tigers found a way to get it done, cashing in on 34 of their 78 points from in the paint.
UP NEXT: #1 Wittenberg faces #8 Oberlin on Tuesday night in the opening round of the 2018 NCAC Men's Basketball Tournament from Pam Evans Smith Arena.
.@WittenbergHoops photos of the night from an Instant Classic at #ThePam #TigerUp #d3h pic.twitter.com/d1KUsStYP8
— Wittenberg Athletics (@WittAthletics) February 18, 2018
An unbelievable finish by the Tigers! Congrats on being the @NCAC champs! Big time play by @OHCAthletics and Southeastern alum @BertemesJake. There's something special about basketball the city of Springfield! #TigerUp pic.twitter.com/7k8tLI8gdN
— Cody Sarensen (@CoachSarensen) February 18, 2018
LISTEN: Jake Bertemes hits game-tying three to send @WittenbergHoops to OT vs. Wooster, then scores and gets fouled to win the outright NCAC crown. #TigerUp @WittAthleticshttps://t.co/GAZJT8s7qe
— Scott Leo (@Scott_Leo) February 18, 2018
#MBKB: @WittAthletics claimed its 12th NCAC men's basketball title after a thrilling 78-77 OT win over @WoosterSports on Saturday night. The Tigers will now be the top seed in the #NCACMBKB18. Complete pairings available here - https://t.co/bt9ZorvakF pic.twitter.com/wbl0FKFpDq
— NCAC (@NCAC) February 18, 2018
@WittAthletics @WittenbergHoops @BertemesJake
— Molly Bertemes Zufra (@MollyZufra) February 18, 2018
Just witnessed the BEST example of "never give up"!!!!
Incredible job Tigers���� #thatsmynephew #tigerup
