Tiger Basketball Teams Host Zimmerman Memorial Classic

Springfield, Ohio – The Wittenberg University men’s and women’s basketball teams welcome a field of eight teams for the 2014 Charles B. Zimmerman Memorial Classic. The competition is scheduled for Monday, Dec. 29, and Tuesday, Dec. 30, at Wittenberg’s Pam Evans Smith Arena in the HPER Center, with games on both days scheduled for noon, 2:15, 4:30 and 7 p.m. 

Men’s tournament participants for 2014 include Alma College, Wilmington College, Waynesburg University and Wittenberg. Action gets underway Monday at 4:30 p.m. as Alma and Wilmington square off, followed by a clash between the host Tigers and Waynesburg at 7 p.m. On Tuesday, the consolation game is slated for 2:15 p.m., and the championship contest is slated for 7 p.m. 

Wittenberg has appeared 30 of the 31 title games in the men’s tournament history, winning 27 championships. Their four title game defeats came in 1986 against Centre College, 1997 against the University of Chicago, 2002 against Ohio Dominican University and 2013 against Taylor University. The Tigers also placed third in 2008. 

The Tigers enter the 2014 Zimmerman Classic with a 3-6 overall record, including a mark of 1-3 in the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC). The Tigers’ first-round opponent, Waynesburg, is off to a 3-5 start to the 2014-15 season. Alma stands 1-8 and Wilmington comes into the tournament with a 2-7 record. 

Women’s tournament participants for 2014 include City College of New York, Hanover College, Mount St. Joseph University and Wittenberg. Action gets underway Friday at noon as City College of New York and Hanover square off, followed by a game between the host Tigers and Mount St. Joseph at 2:15 p.m. On Saturday, action opens with City College of New York against Mount St. Joseph at noon and Wittenberg against Hanover at 4:30 p.m. 

Wittenberg has won 12 of the 28 titles in the women’s tournament history, most recently taking the 2012 championship after defeating Defiance and Mount Union. In the championship game, the Tigers stunned second-ranked Mount Union with a game-winning free throw by current senior Enri Small (Columbus, Ohio/Columbus School for Girls) with less than one second remaining. 

The Tigers check into the 2014 competition with a 7-3 overall record, including a mark of 1-1 in the NCAC. Wittenberg’s first-round opponent, Mount St. Joseph, is off to a 3-5 start to the 2013-14 season, while City College of New York is 2-6 and Hanover is 5-2. 

Formerly known as the Kiwanis Wittenberg Holiday Classic, the annual basketball competition was dedicated in 2005 to the late Charles B. Zimmerman, Wittenberg class of 1956, a longtime Tiger fan and a local attorney. Tickets are $10 for all sessions or $6 for adults, $5 seniors/students and $2 for children under age 12. 

No passes of any kind will be accepted. Doors will open one hour prior to the first game each day.

Written By: Ryan Maurer