Wittenberg Tigers close regular season with 10th straight victory

Wittenberg against Denison on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2020, at Pam Evans Smith Arena in Springfield.

Credit: David Jablonski - Staff Writer

Credit: David Jablonski - Staff Writer

Wittenberg against Denison on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2020, at Pam Evans Smith Arena in Springfield.

The No. 5 Wittenberg Tigers closed the regular season with a 93-65 victory at Hiram on Saturday at Pam Evans Smith Arena.

Wittenberg (24-1, 17-1) will take a 10-game winning streak into the North Coast Athletic Conference tournament. The Tigers earned the top seed by winning the regular-season championship and will play No. 8 seed Ohio Wesleyan at 8 p.m. Tuesday in Springfield.

Jake Bertemes scored 24 points on Senior Day. Connor Seipel, another senior, scored 17.

Wittenberg started all five of its seniors. Jordan Pumroy had three points. Mark Fair scored four. Tanner Cowgill had one.

James Johnson scored 19 points off the bench. Wittenberg led 44-39 at halftime and broke open the game with an 11-0 run in the first five minutes of the second half.

Wittenberg could have as many as three home games remaining and more if it hosts games in the NCAA tournament. It will host the NCAC semifinals and finals if it wins Tuesday.

Here are the other first-round matchups on Tuesday: No. 7 seed Denison at No. 2 Wabash, 7:30 p.m.; No. 6 Allegheny at No. 3 Wooster, 7:30 p.m.; No. 5 Oberlin at No. 4 DePauw, 8 p.m.

Women's basketball: The Tigers (18-7, 11-5) saw their five-game winning streak end Saturday as they closed the regular seaosn with a 71-54 loss at Oberlin. The teams will meet again in the NCAC quarterfinals at 6 p.m. Tuesday in Springfield. Wittenberg is the No. 3 seed. Oberlin is seeded sixth.

About the Author