Scrappy Tigers Stun Visiting Wooster, 60-50

SPRINGFIELD, OH - In the long history of the men's basketball rivalry between Wittenberg University and the College of Wooster, rarely had a Tiger team come in so overmatched on paper. Boasting a veteran team that had a size advantage at every position on the floor, the Scots are once again among the top teams in the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) after starting the season 11-0 and rising as high as No. 6 in the national polls, and Wooster had already defeated Wittenberg 67-57 on January 4.

However, it's hard to measure heart and will and determination, and the Tigers showed plenty of all of those things in the re-match Saturday before a lively crowd in Pam Evans Smith Arena. Offensively, the Tigers played a disciplined half-court game, regularly bleeding the shot clock before finding scoring opportunities, and defensively Wittenberg scrapped and clawed from start to finish, harassing Wooster into its worst shooting performance of the 2024-25 season en route to a 60-50 upset.

The Scots managed just 15-of-53 shooting from the field for a woeful 28.3%, including a 3-of-25 showing from three-point range. Wooster even struggled - relatively speaking - from the free throw line, making 17-of-25, compared to 22-of-26 for Wittenberg.

The Tigers weren't much better offensively, making 34.8% from the field. But Wittenberg was efficient from long range, attempting just 12 three-pointers and making half of them. The leader was senior guard Cameron Harrison (Eaton, OH / National Trail) - all four of his made field goals in the game were triples. That included a buzzer-beater from about 30 feet to close the first half that tied the game at 25-25, a three on a fast break that followed a chase down block by Tyler Galluch (Springfield, OH / Catholic Central) that represented a five-point swing with five minutes left in the game, and the dagger bucket inside the final minute as the crowd was sensing the victory.

After getting outrebounded by a whopping 20 in the loss at Wooster, the Tigers won the battle of the boards this time by a 35-28 margin. Galluch and point guard Cal Bavineau (Dexter, MI / Dexter) led the way with seven caroms apiece.

Bavineau and Dawson Scott (New Castle, IN / New Castle) contributed eight points each, and Galluch and Eddie Brown (Lewis Center, OH / Olentangy Orange) added seven points apiece. Brown was limited to just 15 minutes in the game due to foul problems.

With the win, the Tigers' first in the series between the two teams since February 2020, Wittenberg improved to 8-11 overall and 4-6 in the NCAC. Wooster fell to 15-5 overall and 7-4 in the league.