Tigers Fall to Hiram in Regular Season Finale, 64-60

HIRAM, Ohio—The Tigers closed out their 2016 regular season on the road at NCAC foe Hiram Saturday afternoon. The game was back and forth from the opening tip, featuring seven ties and two lead changes. Wittenberg struggled to hit their stride in the first half, but after the break the visiting squad came out on a mission, wearing down Hiram to regain the lead with mere minutes remaining. The final minute of the game proved to be the game, as Wittenberg managed to tie the game up at this point, but go on to surrender four points with seconds remaining, dropping the game 64-60. The Tigers move to 14-11 on the season and 9-9 in conference play, as the NCAC tournament is slated to begin early next week. Despite closing the regular season out with a loss, Wittenberg earned the #5 seed in the NCAC tournament, drawing Denison University next Tuesday in Granville. Game time is projected to be 8:00PM.

GAME BREAKDOWN

• Wittenberg trailed early in the game, 11-5 before a run of their own, capped off by a Garrett Dorfman (Durham, North Carolina/Northern Durham) three-pointer brought the Tigers to within one at 11-10.
• Just before halftime, Landon Hormann (West Liberty, Ohio/Salem) got to the bucket for a layup to put the cut Hiram's lead to 30-27, but as time wound down in the half, Hiram nailed a three at the buzzer to go up 33-27 at the break.
• With 14:25 remaining in the game, Hormann got loose again, getting to the bucket for a layup that cut into the deficit, 40-38.
• Pulling the Tigers within one-point for the second time was Zach Brashear (Maineville, Ohio/Kings) as his three-pointer found the bottom of the net with the score at 49-48.
• At the 9:26 mark, Chad Roy (Toldeo, Ohio/Holland Springfield) collected an and-one layup, converting his foul shot, to tie the score at 51-51.
• Jaelin Williams (Springfield, Ohio/Shawnee) gave the Tigers the lead for the first-time in the second half after nailing jumper with 6:30 left in the game, going up 57-55.
• After Williams made basket, neither team scored for nearly 2:30 minutes before Hiram tied the game up and took the lead.
• The game was again knotted up at 60-60, but the final minute of the game belonged to the Terriers as Wittenberg fell 64-60.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Williams led the Tigers with 14 points and eight boards in his 29 minutes of play Saturday afternoon.
• Roy complimented Williams' offensive efforts in the game, putting up 13 points and pulling down five rebounds.

KEY STATS

• The Tigers were five of 20 from beyond the three-point arc Saturday, while finishing 34.5-percent from the field as a team.
• Wittenberg produced 24 bench points, highlighted by Brashear's ten.
• Despite the loss, the Tigers out-rebounded Hiram 46-43.

UP NEXT

• Wittenberg returns to action Tuesday in Granville, Ohio as the #5 seed in the NCAC tournament. The Tigers face off against #4 Denison, while the game time is to be announced.

Written By: Kuris Duggan