Box Score
Oberlin, Ohio – The Oberlin College men's basketball team gave the NCAC's best team all they could handle, but in the end the Wittenberg University Tigers were able to outlast the Yeomen, 68-56, on Saturday afternoon at Philips Gym.
Geoff Simpson and
Emmanuel Lewis led the Yeomen with 15 points apiece. Simpson went 6-of-15 from the floor, while Lewis came off the bench to record a career-high as he was 5-of-6 shooting, including a perfect 3-of-3 from beyond the arc en route to netting. Rookie
Austin Little chipped in with eight points, while
Andrew Fox contributed with a team-high 10 rebounds to go along with eight points.
The Tigers (15-4, 9-1 NCAC) started the game on an 11-0 run, but the Yeomen fought back and eventually tied the contest at 19 with 6:36 left in the opening half. The game was later tied at 22, but the Tigers closed out the frame on a 14-6 run to take a 36-28 lead into the locker room.
In the second half, the Yeomen trailed by 16, 50-34, with 12:13 left to play, but once again their never-say-die attitude shined through. A 15-4 Oberlin run that featured two triple-hits from Lewis and one from Little made it a 54-49 game with just under seven minutes to play. The run was capped off by a Tigers' technical foul that resulted in a pair if free throw makes by Lewis.
Unfortunately, Wittenberg was able to regain control by scoring seven of the game's next nine points to extend its lead back out to 10, 61-51, at the 4:27 mark. Fox would later cash in a 3-pointer to cut it to nine, but the Yeomen would get no closer the rest of the way.
Oberlin (6-13, 1-9 NCAC) shot 40.4-percent (21-of-52) from the floor, which included a 9-of-29 (31%) effort from downtown. However, the Yeomen hurt themselves at the free throw line, where they made a season-low of 5 on 13 attempts for just a 38.5-percent success rate.
The Tigers distinct size advantage also resulted in them winning the rebounding war 39-25 while out-scoring Oberlin 40-20 in the paint.
Oberlin returns to action on Wednesday night when it travels east to take on the Gators of Allegheny College. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m.
