Tigers Outdueled By Strong NAIA Program Indiana University-East
The Wittenberg men's basketball team opened the 2010-11 season on the road Tuesday night, traveling to 7-0 NAIA program Indiana University-East where they dropped a 90-84 decision to the Red Wolves to start the campaign 0-1 overall.
RICHMOND, Ind. — The Wittenberg men's basketball team opened the 2010-11 season on the road Tuesday night, traveling to 7-0 NAIA program Indiana University-East where they dropped a 90-84 decision to the Red Wolves to start the campaign 0-1 overall.
The game was only the second meeting between the two programs, following an 80-69 win back in 2008-09.
The Tigers opened the game strong, running out to a 10-2 lead in the first two minutes. The Red Wolves scored the next 18 points to move ahead 20-10. Wittenberg ate away at the lead to bring it back within seven with 3:11 remaining in the first, but the hosts pushed back out to 10 heading to the break.
Three and a half minutes into the second half the Red Wolves still sat on a 10-point lead, but in subsequent action the two teams turned to run-and-gun offense to make things happen.
Down by three with 13:42 remaining in the game thanks in large part to six points, three rebounds, one steal and one assist from junior Clayton Black (Lancaster, Ohio/Lancaster) over the first six minutes of the half, junior Alex Brandt (Lewis Center, Ohio/Olentangy) sank a basket to bring the Tigers within one point. Under a minute later Brandt converted one of two free throws to tie the score at 57-all.
The Red Wolves made a free throw at their end, but Wittenberg answered with a three-point goal by sophomore Ian Quick (Marysville, Ohio/Marysville) to take a two-point lead with 12:43 remaining.
Momentum swung the other way as IU-East scored 14 of the next 16 points to reclaim a 10-point lead at 72-62 with under nine minutes left. The Tigers were not finished, though, closing the gap back down to two on three-pointer from Chris Sullivan (Columbus, Ohio/Upper Arlington) with just 2:49 to go.
Despite the urgent push from Wittenberg, East held on throughout the final minutes to claim the victory.
Black emerged as the dominant Tiger in the game, finishing with 26 points on 10-of-19 shooting, plus nine rebounds, two assists and two steals. He led the team in scoring, while junior Seth Hill (Bellefontaine, Ohio/Bellefontaine) claimed seven defensive rebounds among 10 overall to lead the category.
Behind Black and Hill, the Tigers outrebounded the Red Wolves 47-29.
Sullivan also reached double figures with 11 points, including three long-range makes and 2-for-2 free throw shooting. Brandt was 3-for-3 from the field with six rebounds.
Quick, a transfer from Mount Vernon Nazarene, made a solid debut in the Red & White, going 3-for-3 from the floor and totaling seven points while grabbing six rebounds.
The Tigers have a week to prepare for their NCAA Division III opener when they travel to Bexley, Ohio, to take on familiar opponent Capital at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 23. The two teams have met 97 times in a series the Tigers lead 68-29, dating back to 1907.
John Strawn '07