Wittenberg Jumps On Purdue-Calumet For Comfortable Win

SPRINGFIELD, Ohio - It was essentially over before it started as the Wittenberg Tigers jumped out to a 17-3 lead to open the game and raced to a 77-47 victory over Purdue University Calumet in the second game of the Kiwanis-Wittenberg Holiday Classic.

With the win, the Tigers improved to 7-2 overall and advanced to the championship game at 8 p.m. Saturday. Purdue-Calumet dropped to 5-10 overall and will now face Walsh, a fellow NAIA Division II member, in Thursday's consolation game at 3 p.m.

Wittenberg shot 55 percent from the field in the game, including 11-of-22 from the three-point line, won the rebounding battle 30-26, committed two less turnovers than the Peregrines and also hit 75 percent from the free throw line in a very complete, well-rounded win. The lead was 33-15 by halftime, and the Tigers simply poured it on in the second half as all 15 players in uniform saw at least three minutes of action and 12 of them scored.

Topping the Tigers' balanced offense were junior post Dane Borchers and senior point guard Kenny Molz with 14 points apiece. Senior wing Andy Bucheit added 11 points. Borchers was tops with five rebounds and senior point guard Danny Brywczynski was solid with eight points, two steals and four assists with no turnovers.

Purdue-Calumet put one player in double figures as Steve Polak drained 10 points off the bench. The Peregrines, playing their first game under head coach Mike James, also got nine points from Thomas Mosley.