Wooster, Ohio – The Wittenberg men's basketball traveled to No. 9 the College of Wooster, taking down their NCAC rival the Fighting Scots, 84-74. The Tigers took a 34-21 lead into the half, converting on 48 percent from the floor through the first 20-minutes of action. Wittenberg had six players finish off the night scoring in double figures. Leading the scoring effort was the lone senior and Mitchell Balser, tallying 18 points on 5 of 11 shooting from the field, including 6 of 7. Balser added four rebounds and three assists with two steals. Wittenberg finished the night, shooting 50 percent from the floor, converting on 6 of 16 from beyond the arc and knocking down 88 percent from the charity stripe on the night. This is the fifth Tiger win in a row, as Wittenberg moves to 18-5 on the season and 12-4 in NCAC action.

Game Breakdown

It was a back and forth battle through the early going, as the Tigers found their offensive spark with just under seven minutes to go in the first half. Wittenberg added to their lead just before the break. Jacob Bertemes and Landon Martin and James Johnson posted nine quick points for the Red and White, giving the Tigers the 34-21 lead at the break. Bertemes led the Wittenberg scoring effort in the early going, posting eight points on 3 of 5 from the floor. Johnson added six points with seven rebounds in the first half. The Tigers came out firing in the second half, as Balser tallied 13 of his 18 points. The Red and White converted on 14 of 26 attempts from the floor, fending off a late Wooster run in the second half. Wooster would bring the game back to within single digits with under a minute remaining, as the Tigers held on for the 84-74 win.

Who Stood Out

Johnson finished with 14 points on 5 of 8 shooting, pulling down eight rebounds and serving up two assists. Connor Seipel tallied 14 points with eight points, finishing 6 of 10 from the floor, and blocking two shots. Bertemes finished the night 4 of 9 from the floor with 12 points with three assists and two blocked shots. Martin and Jordan Pumroy provided 11 points on the night, adding four rebound and one assist each. Pumroy tallied three steals on the night, while Martin added one of his own.

UP NEXT

Wittenberg will return home to Pam Evans Smith Arena on Wednesday, Feb. 13 for Senior Day to host the Little Giants of Wabash at 7:00 PM.