Tigers Hold Off Pesky Oberlin, 68-56

Jacob Weide gave the Wittenberg Tigers a big lift in a 12-point win over Oberlin with 10 rebounds off the bench. File Photo/Erin Pence

OBERLIN, Ohio — All 10 Wittenberg players who saw action found their way into both the rebounding and scoring column as the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC)-leading Tigers topped Oberlin, 68-56.

No Tiger scored more than 13 points as Wittenberg improved to 15-4 overall and 9-1 in the NCAC. The Tigers remained two games ahead in the regular season standings with six games left. Oberlin lost for the second time in the 2011-12 season to Wittenberg and dropped to 6-13 overall and 1-9 in the conference.

Wittenberg jumped out to an 11-0 lead to start the game, but the Yeomen bounced back to tie the game at 19 and again at 22. The Tigers ended the half on a 14-6, however, to open up a 36-28 lead at the intermission.

In the second half, the Tigers opened up a 15-point lead on a lay-up by sophomore Zack Leahy (Rossford, Ohio/Rossford) at the 11:22 mark. The Yeomen wouldn't go away, pulling back to within five points with 6:58 before Wittenberg again closed strong on a 14-7 run.

Three Tigers finished in double figures offensively, as seniors Clayton Black (Lancaster, Ohio/Lancaster) and Josh McKee (New Carlisle, Ohio/Tecumseh) both tossed in 13 points. Black added nine rebounds, while McKee topped the Tigers with four assists and three steals. Leahy added 12 points and four assists.

Also of note was the play of senior Jacob Weide (Fort Wayne, Ind./Homestead), who finished with six points and a game-high 10 rebounds, all on the defensive end, and senior Michael Duffy (Lewis Center, Ohio/Olentangy), who scored a career-high seven points.