Wittenberg 57, Ohio Wesleyan 55

Junior guard Andy Winters (Columbus/Bishop Watterson) hit a pair of free throws as Ohio Wesleyan wiped out an 11-point second-half deficit to take the lead, but Wittenberg escaped Branch Rickey Arena with a win in a battle of North Coast Athletic Conference unbeatens on Saturday.

Ohio Wesleyan had trailed, 27-16, at halftime, but the Bishops got back into the game with a 12-2 burst early in the second half.  Sophomore post Reuel Rogers (Columbus/Bexley) hit a pair of buckets, senior wing Tim Brady (Dublin/Jerome) sank a 3-pointer, and junior wing Vaughn Spaulding (Reynoldsburg) contributed a tip-in as the Bishops closed to within 32-29 just over 4 minutes into the period, and junior guard Eric Easley (Columbus/Thomas Worthington) added a 3-pointer from the top of the key to make it a 33-32 game.

The Bishops were still within a point at 40-39 after a 3-pointer by freshman wing Nick Felhaber (Holland/Toledo St. John's), and after a Wittenberg miss, Winters was fouled and hit a pair of free throws to give Ohio Wesleyan a 41-40 lead with 8:33 remaining.

The game was tied at 51 after junior post Marshall Morris (Tulsa, Okla./Jenks) hit the second of 2 free throws with 2:35 left, but Wittenberg would take the lead for good on a lay-in by Clayton Black that would prove to be the final basket of the game.

Brady hit the first of 2 free throws to bring the Bishops within 53-52, but single free throws from Zack Leahy and Alex Brandt extended the Tiger lead to 55-52 with :31 left.  After Brady and Winters misfired on shots, Leahy sank a pair of free throws to make it a 57-52 game with :06 remaining.

Fouled while trying a 3-pointer, Brady stepped to the line and sank all 3 charity tosses to bring the Bishops within 57-55 with :03 to play, and the Bishops fouled Josh McKee on the inbounds pass with :01.9 on the clock.  McKee missed both free throws and Felhaber grabbed the rebound, but Winters' 3-pointer from beyond midcourt was off the mark.

The game's early moments were a forecast of things to come, as neither team scored until Morris hit a jumper from the lane nearly 4 minutes into the action.  Ohio Wesleyan still led, 8-7, after a Brady fast break score, but Wittenberg answered with a 7-0 run that included a 3-pointer by Ben Syroka, and the Tigers opened up a double-digit lead during the final minutes of the half as McKee canned a 3-pointer and Black contributed a pair of lay-ins and a free throw.

Brady led the Bishops with 15 points, while Rogers finished with 13 points.  Morris grabbed a team-high 9 rebounds and Winters collected 6 assists.

Black led Wittenberg with 15 points, 10 rebounds, and 3 assists.  Michael Cooper added 13 points and Leahy scored 12 points.

Box Score