Wittenberg Survives Late Run By Allegheny To Capture NCAC Opener

SPRINGFIELD, Ohio - Wittenberg University, the two-time defending North Coast Athletic Conference regular season champion, showed toughness and mettle in a hard-fought 70-66 win over Allegheny at the HPER Center. It was the NCAC opener for both teams, and it had many of the earmarks of the Tigers' previous home game, a 67-66 loss to NAIA scholarship program Cedarville on Tuesday.

In that game, Cedarville jumped out to a big early lead, held off several Wittenberg charges until giving up the lead in the closing minutes. After Wittenberg couldn't put the game away from the free throw line, the Yellow Jackets buried a long three-pointer with seven seconds left to stun the Tigers. In this game, Wittenberg got out to the big lead early, but the Tigers made just 6-of-13 free throws in the second half and couldn't seem to put away the pesky Gators, who hit 6-of-9 three-point field goals in the final 20 minutes.

Wittenberg leaped out to an 11-2 lead to start the game before the Gators began their three-point shooting barrage, hitting six in each half and finishing at 54.5 percent from three-point range for the game. The lead was 35-30 at halftime and Allegheny closed to within one point on three occasions in the closing minutes of the game but could never take the lead. The Tigers finally closed the game out with two free throws with just .4 seconds remaining by sophomore Kenny Molz (Kettering, Ohio/Fairmont).

The Tigers were paced by a game-high 15-point effort from freshman center Daniel Russ (Louisville, Ky./Trinity) and 14 points from sophomore guard Andy Bucheit (Cincinnati, Ohio/LaSalle), both off the bench. Senior center B.J. Harris (Riverside, Ohio/Stebbins) added seven points and seven rebounds, including a key basket in the lane in the final minute that gave the Tigers some breathing room.

Wittenberg is back in action on Wednesday at Otterbein, the defending national champion and owner of four straight victories over the Tigers. Wittenberg is now 4-2 overall and 1-0 in the NCAC. Allegheny dropped to 2-4 overall and 0-1 in the conference.