Wittenberg University Athletics - Wittenberg vs. Allegheny, Feb. 28, 2003

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Wittenberg stunned by Allegheny in NCAC semifinals

Story By: Ryan Maurer
E-Mail: rmaurer@wittenberg.edu
Date: February 28, 2003

Box Score

WOOSTER, Ohio - In breaking down the Allegheny/Wittenberg North Coast Athletic Conference tournament semifinal boxscore, it is evident that statistics do lie. The Wittenberg Tigers dominated the rebounding category 40-26, made 10 more shots while shooting 52 percent from the field (compared to 38 percent for Allegheny) and also hit 80 percent of their free throw attempts. The difference in a 73-72 Allegheny upset was three-point shooting as the Gators hit an NCAC tournament record 13 from beyond the arc and free throw shooting as the Gators made 18-of-21, including six straight in the final 2:51 of the game.

And thus, for the first time in three years, the Tigers will be watching the NCAC tournament title game from the sidelines, ending a relatively disappointing season with a second straight loss to the Allegheny Gators. The Gators had dashed Wittenberg's hopes of a third consecutive NCAC regular season championship on Feb. 8 with a 66-63 victory in Meadville, Pa. Wittenberg's season ends with a 20-6 overall mark, including a 14-2 record in the NCAC, which was good for runner-up honors. Allegheny moves on with a 16-11 mark after finishing third in the NCAC regular season with a 10-6 record.

In many ways, this game was decided in the first half as Allegheny dominated action for almost 20 minutes. The Gators got out of the gate with a three-pointer by Matt Magnusen just one minute into play and eventually stretched the lead to 38-22 as Billy Dungee capped a 13-0 Allegheny run with a steal and basket at the 3:34 mark of the first half.

Wittenberg responded with a 12-4 run to close the half, and in the second stanza came all the way back to take a 50-48 lead with 11:25 remaining. The lead see-sawed back and forth the rest of the way before Ryan Meerstein drained a three-pointer with 3:04 left and Allegheny staved off the Tigers with the aforementioned free throws. Wittenberg did have two shots in the final 12 seconds, but a three-pointer by sophomore point guard Danny Brywczynski (Dayton, Ohio/Northmont) and a short jumper by senior forward Kevin Longley (Vandalia, Ohio/Butler) were both off the mark.

For the game, Wittenberg once again got almost all of its points in the point as senior center B.J. Harris (Riverside, Ohio/Stebbins) led the way with 16 points and seven rebounds in his final game in the Red and White. Sophomore forward Andy Bucheit (Cincinnati, Ohio/LaSalle) provided a lift off the bench with 14 points after missing Tuesday's quarterfinal win over Denison due to illness, and freshman center Daniel Russ (Louisville, Ky./Trinity) and Longley each added 10 points. Longley led the Tigers on the boards with nine rebounds.

Allegheny put four players in double figures after shooting a phenomenal 13-of-24 from three-point range (the Gators had just 21 total baskets). Magnusen led all scorers with 17 points, including a 3-for-3 performance from three-point land.

The Gators advanced to the NCAC title game on Saturday at 7 p.m. against the host Wooster Scots, a 76-66 winner over Wabash in the other semifinal.