Tigers Find The Range In Win Over Heidelberg

SPRINGFIELD, Ohio - The Wittenberg Tigers have spent the first six weeks of the 2014-15 men's basketball season trying to find their offensive stroke. It was finally unearthed in the second half of a 73-67 victory over Heidelberg.

Wittenberg shot a season-best 54.9 percent, including a scorching 63.6 percent in the second half alone, to pick up their second win in a row after a 1-6 start to the campaign. The loss dropped Heidelberg to 3-5.

The Tigers needed the strong shooting performance because they struggled to keep control of the ball, piling up a season-high 19 turnovers. Otherwise, Wittenberg dominated the statistics, outrebounding Heidelberg by 11 to go along with the stellar shooting performance. The Student Princes were limited to 38.1 percent shooting from the field, although Heidelberg did hit 11-of-12 from the free throw line.

Heidelberg led most of the first 30 minutes of the game before Wittenberg staged a 13-2 rally over the span of four minutes, turning a 48-43 Heidelberg lead into a 56-50 Tiger advantage with 8:48 remaining. The Student Princes could draw no closer than three points the rest of the way.

Senior Sam Collins (Cleveland Heights, Ohio/Cleveland Heights) turned in his best scoring performance of the season, finishing 8-of-9 from the field en route to a game-high 19 points. Sophomore Cody Phillippi (Xenia, Ohio/Xenia) added 12 points, a team-high nine rebounds, a career-best five assists, two blocked shots and two steals in 35 stellar minutes at point guard.

Written By: Ryan Maurer