Nationally Ranked OWU Pulls Away From Tigers Late

DELAWARE, Ohio - The Wittenberg Tigers rallied to tie the game twice - once in each half - but the nationally ranked Ohio Wesleyan Battling Bishops pulled away over the final 15 minutes to secure a 75-63 victory.

The loss was Wittenberg's third in a row and dropped the Tigers to 3-9 overall and 1-4 in the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC). Ohio Wesleyan, ranked 17th in the most recent d3hoops.com poll, improved to 10-2 overall and 5-0 in the league.

After the two teams opened the game by trading baskets, Ohio Wesleyan jumped on top with a 12-0 run. The Tigers battled back to tie the game at 21-21 with 5:54 left in the first half on a lay-up by freshman Chris Sloneker (Monroe, Ohio/Monroe) and again at 31-31 at the 17:34 mark of the second half on a jumper by sophomore Shane Edwards (Perrysburg, Ohio/Perrysburg).

The Battling Bishops took control from that point, however, outscoring the Tigers 17-4 over the next five minutes. The lead grew to as many as 16 points in the waning moments.

Senior Sam Collins (Cleveland Heights, Ohio/Cleveland Heights) led Wittenberg with 16 points, while sophomore Cody Phillippi (Xenia, Ohio/Xenia) added nine points and five rebounds. Sloneker and sophomore Jaelin Williams (Springfield, Ohio/Shawnee) led Wittenberg with six rebounds each as the Tigers led in that department 44-37.

The two teams combined for just 14 turnovers. The most significant statistical difference in the game was OWU's marksmanship from three-point range - the Battling Bishops attempted 35 three-pointers, compared to 24 shots inside the arc - and from the free throw line. OWU hit 14 shots from three-point range and 76.5 from the charity stripe, while the Tigers managed just four baskets from long distance and hit just 13-of-25 from the foul line.

Written By: Ryan Maurer