SPRINGFIELD, OH – Wabash shot just 35 percent from the field and scored nearly 20 points below its season average in a 58-56 overtime North Coast Athletic Conference loss to the Wittenberg Tigers on the road Wednesday evening.
 
The Little Giants (18-6, 11-4) came into the game averaging 73 points and shooting 48 percent from the field for the season. Wabash was held to 22-of-63 shooting from the field (34.9 percent), including a 4-of-24 effort from three-point range (16.7 percent). The Little Giants came into the game shooting 35.6 percent from behind the arc with an average of eight made three-point shots per game.
 
Wittenberg (12-11, 8-7 NCAC)  took a seven-point lead three-and-a-half minutes into the game before Wabash drew within three points at 11-8 on a pull-up three-pointer by Vinny Buccilla. The Tigers regained their seven-point lead twice more in the first half until Wabash mounted a rally.
 
Trailing 19-12, Wabash went on a 9-0 run with 4:46 left in the first half, culminating in a bucket from Buccilla, to take a 21-19 lead in the final minute of the period. Wittenberg scored the next two baskets to move back in front by two points. Sam Comer closed the half with two free throws for a 23-23 tie at the break.
 
Wittenberg opened the second half with a basket, but Comer and Buccilla gave the lead back to the Little Giants with a pair of baskets. The Tigers responded with a 7-0 run to move back in front 32-27. Wabash tied the score three minutes later on a turnaround jumper from Randy Kelley. The two teams traded baskets throughout the remainder of the half before Wittenberg regained a five-point lead at 47-42 with 4:48 left in regulation. Josh Whack cut the advantage to three points with a basket, and Champ McCorkle made it a two-point game with a free throw with 3:48 on the game clock. Kelley provided another tie at 47-47 at the 2:31 mark.
 
Buccilla answered a pair of Wittenberg free throws with two of his own to tie the score at 49-49. Jeff Queen put the Tigers back in front with 1:25 left on the second-period clock before another pull-up jumper from Kelley matched the score at 51-51, sending the game into overtime.
 
Wabash never led in the extra five-minute session, falling behind by four points at 55-51. Edreece Redmond nailed a three-point shot with 1:24 left to draw the Little Giants to within a point at 55-54. Wabash had an opportunity to take the lead after a McCorkle steal with 25 seconds left in the game, but an offensive foul called on the junior at the other end of the floor gave the ball back to Wittenberg. The Little Giants were forced to foul in the closing seconds, but the Tiger remained perfect from the free throw line, making three of their final four free throws.
 
Wittenberg missed its final attempt for the night's only miss at the line. Buccilla launched a last-second prayer just ahead of the buzzer, but the shot fell short to send Wabash to its fourth loss in conference play this season.
 
Wabash had three players score in double figures, led by Vinny Buccilla, who had 12 points. Sam Comer added 10 points, and Randy Kelley chipped in with 10 points off the bench. Wabash out-rebounded Wittenberg 35-32, led by nine boards from Champ McCorkle.
 
Wabash can still capture a share of the regular-season NCAC title when it travels to Wooster on Saturday, thanks to a 78-70 loss by the Scots at Denison Wednesday night. Wooster holds a one-game lead over Wabash heading into Saturday's regular-season finale. Wabash defeated Wooster 83-68 in Crawfordsville in January.
 
Game Notes
» Neither team shot well from the field on the evening. Wabash limited the host Tigers to 20-of-52 shooting from the field (38.5 percent) and a 5-of-19 effort from three-point range (26.3 percent). Wittenberg finished 13-of-14 from the free throw line (92.9 percent), while Wabash went 8-of-12 from the stripe (66.7 percent).
» The Wabash bench scored 18 points compared to 11 points by the Tiger reserves.» Trey Killens paced Wittenberg with 22 points. Jeff Queen added 13 points, and Daniel Asher scored 10 points.
 
This article was created using technology provided by Data Skrive.