Wittenberg defeats Hiram to remain perfect in NCAC play

SPRINGFIELD, Ohio - The Wittenberg University Tigers essentially took care of business on Saturday afternoon against an undermanned but scrappy Hiram College team. The Tigers played a strong first half in moving out to a 21-point halftime lead and cruised through the second half to eventually claim a 93-75 North Coast Athletic Conference victory over the Terriers.

Wittenberg never trailed in the game, scoring the first eight points of the game, including two three-pointers by junior guard Rod Emmons (South Bend, Ind./John Adams), and eventually racing out to 50-29 halftime advantage. The Terriers closed to 14-12 at the 13:36 mark of the first half before Wittenberg went on a 22-2 run that was finally broken at the 6:50 mark by an A.J. White three-pointer. Hiram never got closer than 10 points the rest of the way.

The Tigers, who improved to 9-3 overall and 4-0 in the NCAC heading into a crucial four-game stretch that includes road games against current co-leaders Ohio Wesleyan and Wooster, got 18 points from Emmons and 17 off the bench from junior forward Peter Walker (Louisville, Ky./St. Xavier). Joining them in double figures was senior forward Kevin Longley (Vandalia, Ohio/Butler), who had season-highs of 17 points and eight rebounds despite continued pain experienced due to an early season ankle injury, and freshman center Daniel Russ (Louisville, Ky./Trinity), who had 11 points in just 18 minutes off the bench.

Hiram dropped to 3-10 overall and 1-3 in the NCAC. Wittenberg now prepares to hit the road for very tough road games at Ohio Wesleyan on Wednesday night in Delaware and at Denison on Saturday afternoon in Granville before returning home for a game against another of the preseason conference favorites, Wabash, on Wednesday, Jan. 22.