Springfield, Ohio – The Wittenberg University men’s and women’s basketball teams welcome an outstanding field of eight teams for the 2013 Charles B. Zimmerman Memorial Classic. The competition is scheduled for Friday, Dec. 27, and Saturday, Dec. 28, at Wittenberg’s Pam Evans Smith Arena in the HPER Center, with games on both days scheduled for noon, 2:15, 4:30 and 7 p.m.
Men’s tournament participants for 2013 include Marian University (Ind.), Kean University (NJ), Grove City (Pa.) and Wittenberg. Action gets underway Friday at 4:30 p.m. as Marian and Kean square off, followed by a clash between the host Tigers and Grove City at 7 p.m. On Saturday, the consolation game is slated for 2:15 p.m., and the championship contest is slated for 7 p.m.
Wittenberg has appeared 29 of the 30 title games in the men’s tournament history, winning 25 championships. Their four title game defeats came in 1986 against Centre College, 1997 against the University of Chicago, 2002 against Ohio Dominican University and last year against Taylor University. The Tigers also placed third in 2008.
The 11th-ranked Tigers enter the 2013 Zimmerman Classic with an 8-1 overall record, including a mark of 4-0 in the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC). The Tigers’ first-round opponent, Grove City, is off to a 4-3 start to the 2013-14 season. Marian stands 5-1 and Kean comes into the tournament with a 5-2 record.
Women’s tournament participants for 2013 include Case Western Reserve University (Ohio), Earlham College (Ind.), Brescia University (Ky.) and Wittenberg. Action gets underway Friday at noon as Brescia and Case Western square off, followed by a game between the host Tigers and Earlham at 2:15 p.m. On Saturday, action opens with Brescia against Earlham at noon and Wittenberg against Case Western at 4:30 p.m.
Wittenberg has won 12 of the 27 titles in the women’s tournament history, including the 2012 championship earned after defeating Defiance and Mount Union. In the championship game, the Tigers stunned second-ranked Mount Union with a game-winning free throw by Enri Small (Columbus, Ohio/Columbus School for Girls) with less than one second remaining.
The Tigers check into the 2013 competition with a 5-3 overall record, including a mark of 1-1 in the NCAC. Wittenberg’s first-round opponent, Case Western, is off to a 5-4 start to the 2013-14 season, while Brescia is 1-8 and Earlham is 3-5.
Formerly known as the Kiwanis Wittenberg Holiday Classic, the annual basketball competition was dedicated in 2005 to the late Charles B. Zimmerman, Wittenberg class of 1956, a longtime Tiger fan and a local attorney. Tickets are $10 for all sessions or $6 for adults, $5 seniors/students and $2 for children under age 12.
No passes of any kind will be accepted. Doors will open one hour prior to the first game each day.
Written By: Ryan Maurer