Tigers Ride Clayton Black's Career Night To Key NCAC Win At Kenyon

Senior Clayton Black carried the Tigers to a clutch 71-63 NCAC victory over Kenyon. File Photo/Erin Pence

GAMBIER, Ohio — Senior Clayton Black (Lancaster, Ohio/Lancaster) scored the first six and last four points of the game for the Wittenberg Tigers. In between, he poured in 28 more points as he carried the Tigers to a 71-63 victory at Kenyon.

Black established new career highs for points (38), blocked shots (5), free throws made (16) and rebounds (12) as the Tigers won for the 10th time in their last 11 games. In the process, Wittenberg moved to the top of the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) standings at 5-0 to go along with an 11-3 overall record.

Black's 38 points were the most by a Tiger since Rod Emmons bombed away from long distance for the same total at Wabash in 2003. His 16 free throws converted were two short of one of Wittenberg's oldest single game records — 18 by Terry Deems in 1957.

The Tigers needed everything Black could give them to overcome Kenyon, which had its three-game win streak snapped in falling to 7-7 overall and 1-4 in the NCAC. The score was tied a whopping 13 times in the game and each team held seven leads before the Tigers took control over the final 10 minutes.

Senior Michael Cooper (Springfield, Ohio/South) put the Tigers ahead — for good, as it turned out — with a short jumper at the 9:36 mark of the second half. That sparked a 10-2 burst that put Wittenberg ahead by seven points, and the Tigers made 6-of-7 free throws over the final three minutes to secure the win.

Cooper was the only other Tiger to finish in double figures offensively as he chipped in 11 points to go along with seven rebounds and two assists. Sophomore Zack Leahy (Rossford, Ohio/Rossford) added eight points and four assists in 25 solid minutes off the bench, while senior Alex Brandt (Lewis Center, Ohio/Olentangy) contributed seven points and four rebounds despite foul trouble.

The Tigers shot 42 percent from the field and drained 23-of-31 from the free throw line. Kenyon outrebounded Wittenberg 41-40, but the Lords struggled with their shooting, finishing at 37 percent from the field and just 11-of-21 from the charity stripe.

The Tigers return home for the first time in two weeks to face another NCAC rival as Denison comes calling on Saturday, Jan. 14, for a 3 p.m. tip-off in Wittenberg's Pam Evans Smith Arena.