For Immediate Release Feb. 7, 2009

Contact: Ryan Maurer E-Mail: rmaurer@wittenberg.edu

Mark Snyder

MEADVILLE, Pa - With each game holding increased importance in a tight North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) race, the Wittenberg Tigers answered the bell with a 68-58 win at Allegheny. After a tight first half that included three ties and no lead larger than seven points for either team, Wittenberg powered past the Gators in the second half, leading by as many as 17 while pulling away.

In the decisive second period, Wittenberg shot 61 percent from the floor (14-of-23) as junior post Mark Snyder (Celina, Ohio/Parkway) took over on the block, scoring nine of his 13 points. The Tigers, meanwhile, limited the host Gators to 37 percent shooting, aggravated by just 5-of-23 shooting from three-point land.

Seven Tigers tallied at least six points, highlighted by senior wing Kevin Murray (Carmel, Ind./Carmel) and his team-leading 15. Sophomore guard Chris Sullivan (Columbus, Ohio/Upper Arlington) made three triples himself, part of his 11 points.

Freshman wing Josh McKee (New Carlisle, Ohio/Tecumseh) turned in a solid all-around effort, scoring seven points while leading the team with eight boards in a glass attack that ousted the Gators 36-30. He turned in a key sequence in the closing moments by scoring a lay-up and then grabbing a defensive rebound after the Gators had pulled to within seven points at the 2:22 mark.

The win moves Wittenberg to 11-9 overall and 8-4 in the NCAC, still within striking distance of an NCAC top-four seed and a home game in the NCAC tournament. Their two-game winning streak will be challenged Wednesday, Feb. 11, against NCAC-leading Ohio Wesleyan, which defeated the Tigers by 15 points in their previous meeting, in a doubleheader from Delaware. The Tiger women will be in action at 6 p.m. followed by the men at 8 p.m.

Written By: Ben Bradley, SID Assistant

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