Tigers Overtake Big Red In Overtime

Granville, OH – The Wittenberg Tiger men's basketball team stole an overtime victory from the Denison Big Red on the road on Wednesday evening, 75-72. The Tigers got revenge on the Big Red after falling in their first match-up of the season, Wittenberg outscored Denison 9-6 down the stretch in the overtime period. Wittenberg was led by Landon Martin with a season-high 24 points converting on 9 of 18 attempts from the floor, including 6 of 6 attempts from the free-throw line. Harrison Gough stepped-up big for the Tigers, providing a career-high 16 points with three rebounds and a blocked shot. The Senior leadership continued to shine on the night with Levi Boettcher and Ridge Young providing 10 points each for the Tigers. As a unit, the Tigers shot 45 percent from the floor, knocking down 8 of 27 from beyond the arc. The Wittenberg defense held Denison to just 29 of 65 shooting from the floor, including 2 of 9 from deep.

In the back and forth battle that saw the scoreboard show the lead change hands five times. The Tigers pulled away with their largest lead of the evening at seven points with just under 15-minutes remaining in regulation, coming off the Gough layup. The Tigers held off the Denison comeback for the next 10 minutes, holding a 57-54 advantage with just under six minutes remaining. Within the final three minutes the two teams would tie things up at 62-62, 64-64 and finally 66 all. Twice, it was Martin the Tigers wen to for the game-tying score.

Once overtime came around it was all Tiger basketball and Wittenberg defense. Gough hit the first layup for the Tigers, before Martin followed with the and-one opportunity to put Wittenberg ahead 71-70.

NCAC LEADERS

Martin ranks among the top five in NCAC scorers, sitting at number five averaging 16.4 points per game. Boettcher has worked his way into the Top 20 in the NCAC in rebounds, averaging 5.5 per contest. Shooting just over 51 percent in 10 games this season, Tolliver has secured his spot in the Top 10 in the NCAC for field goals. Young holds the top three-point shooting spot in the league, converting on nearly 49 percent from beyond the arc. Martin, Young, and Tolliver all hold a spot among the top five in field-goal percentage.

UP NEXT

Wittenberg will return to action on Saturday, February 5 returning to Pam Evans Smith Arena, hosting the Lords of Kenyon College. Tip-Off is set for 1:00 PM.