Fifth-Ranked Tigers Win NCAC Title Outright With 88-81 Win Over Wooster

SPRINGFIELD, Ohio – A single game once again separates the two teams in one of small college basketball's greatest all-time rivalries, as fifth-ranked Wittenberg University topped The College of Wooster men's basketball team 88-81 in the 121st all-time meeting on Saturday evening at Pam Evans Smith Arena.

Wittenberg (22-1, 15-1), which pulled within 61-60 in the all-time series, clinched the North Coast Athletic Conference title outright with the win, and will be the top seed in the upcoming NCAC Tournament.

Wooster (17-6, 11-5 NCAC), is now in third place in the NCAC, and is a game back of second-place Wabash College (16-7, 12-4 NCAC) with two games remaining.

Offensive rebounds were at the forefront of Saturday's first half, and Wittenberg made the most of its second-chance opportunities. Two of the Tigers' nine first-half offensive rebounds came during a crucial 12-4 stretch. After the second, James Johnson knocked down a corner three-pointer that put the Tigers up 27-17 with 6:26 left in the stanza.

Wooster was in search of another scoring contributor for a majority of the opening half, as senior Danyon Hempy and junior Dontae Williams accounted for 15 of the Scots' first 17 points. Sophomores JG Gillard and Khaylen Mahdi answered the call and were two of the key reasons Wooster pulled within 35-30 at halftime.

The sophomores scored Wooster's next 10 points, which started when Gillard cut to the basket on an inbound play. Next, Gillard kicked the ball out to Mahdi, who knocked down a three-ball, and not long after, Mahdi returned the favor. Mahdi's floater in the paint with 2:13 remaining in the half had Wooster within 33-27, and a three-ball by junior Keonn Scott made it a 35-30 game.

While the two-man game with Gillard and Mahdi was ongoing, Wooster was the one doing the damage on the offensive glass. Gillard had two offensive rebounds, and Williams corralled one. The Scots cashed in with second-chance points on two of the three extra possessions.

Wooster found success early in the second half posting up in the paint, whether it was Hempy or Williams. Hempy's old-fashion three-point play with 16:55 remaining came on a post-up play, and it marked Wooster's only lead of the night at 39-38.

Johnson, who scored a game-high 31 points, answered right back with his signature fadeaway jumper, and despite Williams' best efforts in the paint with a variety of post moves, Wooster was unable to reclaim the lead despite being within a single possession at six different junctures during the second half.

Two Scott free throws with 8:47 remaining pulled Wooster within 61-60, but the Tigers' 11-2 stretch proved to be too tall a task to overcome. Jake Bertemes' free throw with 3:07 to go capped the 11-2 stretch, and at that point, Wittenberg led by a game-high 13 points at 79-66.

Scott heated up with three late three-pointers to give Wooster a chance. However, Jordan Pumroy beat Wooster to a key offensive rebound after Connor Seipel missed a pair of free throws with Wittenberg leading 82-77 with 45.9 seconds left. Bertemes was fouled coming out of a timeout, and he upped the Tigers' lead to 84-77.

Hempy, who recently became just the fourth player in program history with multiple 500-point seasons, led Wooster with 21 points. It marked his seventh straight 20-point game. Scott was right behind with 20 points, and he canned 6-of-11 three-pointers. Other stats to note included Hempy's eight rebounds, Scott's four assists, and Scott's three steals.

Wooster shot 47.5 percent (29-of-61) for the game, was 10-of-26 on three-pointers, and 13-of-15 at the free throw line.

Johnson made 11-of-18 field goals, and he was 4-of-7 from three-point range. The Tigers' forward corralled a game-high 10 rebounds. Bertemes was equally effective with 23 points and a game-high seven assists.

Wittenberg shot 49.3 percent (34-of-69) for the game and only had six turnovers.

Next, Wooster's at Oberlin College (14-9, 8-8 NCAC) at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, February 19.

Vote for Hempy: Just a reminder to vote daily for Danyon Hempy in the Dark Horse Dunker contest at darkhorsedunker.com.