Men's Basketball
2003-2004 News Releases
All Releases Written By: Ryan Maurer
Director of Sports Information
E-Mail: rmaurer@wittenberg.edu
March 23, 2004
 |
| Daniel Russ |
John Carroll, regular season and tournament champions of the Ohio Athletic Conference, took the lead less than a minute into the game and never looked back. The lead stretched to as much as 14 several times in the first half before settling in at that margin by halftime, 44-30. Wittenberg opened the second half with plenty of fight left, pushing the Blue Streak lead down to 10 on several occasions, but the Tigers never managed to push the advantage back into single digits.
The Blue Streaks were the more athletic, deeper team, a point punctuated by the statistic of the night - bench points were 52-15 in favor of JCU. The Tigers, hindered by the absence of sophomore center Dane Borchers (Russia, Ohio/Russia) due to a broken wrist, couldn't come up with the big shots or the big defensive stops.
Wittenberg got game-highs of 25 points and nine rebounds from senior forward Peter Walker (Louisville, Ky./St. Xavier) in the defeat and sophomore center Daniel Russ (Louisville, Ky./Trinity) added 11 points, eight rebounds and three blocked shots. Also of note was the play of sophomore forward Kenny Brady (Reading, Ohio/Reading), who chipped in with six points, eight rebounds, two assists and two blocked shots.
The loss brought a terrific season to an end. The Tigers won 20 consecutive games between Dec. 13 and Feb. 28, including 16 in a row in the NCAC. It was the second time in school history that Wittenberg had run the table in the NCAC regular season.
After the season, Walker was named first-team All-NCAC and third-team All-Great Lakes Region by d3hoops.com. The Tigers finished the season ranked No. 14 in the nation.
Next: Season Complete
March 6, 2004
 |
| Peter Walker |
Last week, the Tigers won two games before getting upset in the championship game of the North Coast Athletic Conference Tournament Saturday by arch-rival Wooster. On Tuesday in the NCAC Tournament quarterfinals, the Tigers struggled early before putting away the eighth-seeded Denison Big Red, 71-46. The Tigers started off strong, but Denison battled back to within 36-29 by halftime. The Tigers scored seven of the first nine points in the second half and minutes later put together a 9-0 run that opened up a 20-point lead.
Twelve Wittenberg players scored in the game, led by sophomore forward Kenny Brady (Reading, Ohio/Reading), who had 16 points and seven rebounds. Junior guard Andy Bucheit (Cincinnati, Ohio/LaSalle) came off the bench to score 11 points and dish out seven assists and senior forward Peter Walker (Louisville, Ky./St. Xavier) chipped in with 10 points and four rebounds.
On Thursday in the NCAC semifinals against Wabash, the Tigers again used a balanced offensive attack and a significant rebounding advantage to ease their way past an opponent, this time by a 71-54 score.
Wabash led much of the first half, pushing the lead to as many as 12 points, before two three-pointers by the Tigers' junior point guard Danny Brywczynski (Dayton, Ohio/Northmont) sparked a 16-1 run. After Wittenberg went to the locker room with a 29-19 halftime advantage, Wabash got no closer than seven points in the second half. Wittenberg wound up with a 36-22 rebounding advantage, but the Tigers were unable to put the game away because of uncharacteristically poor ball-handling - 22 turnovers (double their season average of 11.2) to the Little Giants' 12. Wittenberg made up for it, however, by shooting 21-of-39 from the field (53.8 percent) and 11-of-17 from long range - good for a blistering 64.7 percentage.
Wittenberg was led offensively by Bucheit, who hit 4-of-5 three-pointers en route to 17 points. Sophomore center Daniel Russ (Louisville, Ky./Trinity) added 16 points, six rebounds and three blocked shots, Walker chipped in with 10 points and eight boards and sophomore center Dane Borchers (Russia, Ohio/Russia) rounded things out with a terrific game off the bench, contributing six points, eight rebounds, two assists, three steals and three blocks.
That set the stage for the improbable championship game, which was dominated by the second-seeded College of Wooster Scots to the tune of a 100-71 final score. The Scots jumped on top quickly, allowed the Tigers to climb back into the game late in the first half and then crushed Wittenberg's spirit with a stunning 11-0 run going into the locker room, capped by an off-balance three-pointer at the buzzer. Wooster was nothing short of amazing in the opening 20 minutes, hitting 65 percent from the field (17-of-26), 69 percent from three-point range (9-of-13) and 100 percent from the free throw line (4-of-4).
If it wasn't the perfect game, it was the perfect first half, one in which Wittenberg could only counter with 38 percent shooting from the field. Wooster never let up in the second half and ran the margin as high as 36 points. For the game, Wittenberg picked up 19 points and seven rebounds from Walker, 13 points and six rebounds from senior guard Rod Emmons (South Bend, Ind./John Adams) and 10 points from Brady.
This week, three Tiger players and Head Coach Bill Brown earned NCAC postseason awards. Walker earned first-team honors after leading the Tigers in scoring at 13.8 points per game and ranking second in rebounds at 6.2 per contest. Brady, who averaged 10.2 points and 5.4 rebounds per contest, and Russ, who posted averages of 12.3 points and 6.8 rebounds per game and also led the NCAC in blocked shots, were named to the all-conference second-team.
NCAC Men's Basketball Coach of the Year went to Bill Brown (Wittenberg 1973) for the fifth time in his career and the fourth time as coach of the Tigers. Brown has an 11-year record at his alma mater of 250-61 and an overall 17-year record of 310-160. Wittenberg has won six NCAC regular season titles and two NCAC Tournament titles, and the Tigers have advanced to the NCAA Division III Tournament seven times in his career.
Next: 3/6 vs. John Carroll, 7 p.m.
NCAA Tournament Second Round
March 4, 2004
Wittenberg Men's And Women's Basketball Teams Rake In Top NCAC Awards
SPRINGFIELD, Ohio - The Wittenberg University Men's and Women's Basketball teams have been mirror images of one another all season, the models of winning consistency, so it should come as no surprise that the Tigers cleaned up in the North Coast Athletic Conference postseason awards, which were announced today. Read More ...
February 29, 2004
Wittenberg Men's And Women's Basketball Teams Earn NCAA Division III Tournament Berths
SPRINGFIELD, Ohio - The Wittenberg University Men's and Women's Basketball teams both earned invitations to the 2004 NCAA Division III Tournament, which opens action this week on campuses across the nation. The Tiger women received the North Coast Athletic Conference's automatic bid into the tournament after winning the NCAC regular season and tournament for a second consecutive season. Read More ...
February 25, 2004
|
|
| Peter Walker |
Against Allegheny, the tone was set early as sophomore forward Kenny Brady (Reading, Ohio/Reading) scored Wittenberg's first four points on putback baskets. Even though the visiting Gators matched those two baskets, the Tigers displayed plenty of muscle and enough offensive touch to pull away for an 85-66 victory at the HPER Center.
The win, on Senior Day at Wittenberg, was sweet for the Tigers for a variety of reasons. Guard Rod Emmons (South Bend, Ind./John Adams) and forward Peter Walker (Louisville, Ky./St. Xavier) celebrated their day in style, hitting for eight and 15 points respectively. The totals pushed Emmons past the 700-point plateau for his career and put Walker in the elite 1,000-point company. He became the 27th player in Wittenberg men's basketball history to reach that scoring figure.
The Tigers won for the 24th straight time in NCAC regular season action, dating back to Feb. 1, 2003 at Allegheny, and they finished the 2003-04 NCAC regular season with a perfect 16-0 record for the second time in school history.
In improving to 28-9 all-time against Allegheny and sweeping the 2003-04 regular season series, Wittenberg snapped the aforementioned 4-4 tie with a three-pointer by junior point guard Danny Brywczynski (Dayton, Ohio/Northmont). That sparked a 24-7 run over the next eight minutes, pushing the lead to 28-11. By halftime, it would reach 46-28 as Walker dropped in 13 points to lead all scorers and nine of the 10 Tigers to appear in the first half scored at least three points. In the second half, Allegheny could draw no closer than 13 points.
The Tigers shot 50 percent from the field, including 11-of-26 from three-point range. The biggest difference in the game was free throw shooting - Wittenberg was whistled for just seven personal fouls, compared to 22 for Allegheny. That translated into 5-of-7 from the free throw line for the Gators and 20-of-27 for the Tigers. Wittenberg finished with a 40-25 advantage in the rebounding department, including 17-11 in offensive caroms.
Wittenberg was paced offensively by Walker, who finished with 15 points and five rebounds. Sophomore center Daniel Russ (Louisville, Ky./Trinity) added 10 points, three rebounds and four assists and Brady checked in with nine points, a game-high 10 boards and four assists.
Against Denison, the Tigers saw a little of both sides of the Big Red - the one that lost 74-29 in Springfield in early January and the one that battled Wittenberg tooth and nail before falling 67-56 in Granville in early February - before pulling away for a 71-46 victory.
The win was Wittenberg's 19th in a row, and it improved the fifth-ranked and top-seeded Tigers to 23-3 overall.
After Wittenberg pulled out to an 11-2 lead to start the game, Denison battled back and pulled to within 36-29 by halftime. The Big Red opened the second half with a basket to get within five points, but the Tigers scored the next seven points, holding Denison scoreless for more than five minutes. The Tigers put together another 9-0 run midway through the half to effectively seal the deal, opening up a 20-point lead that eventually stretched to 25 on a dunk by freshman forward Jack Hemenway (Centerville, Ohio/Centerville) with five seconds remaining.
Brady had another outstanding all-around game with 16 points and seven rebounds. He shot 8-of-9 from the floor in the game, the 19th straight he has started (coinciding with Wittenberg's winning streak). Junior guard Andy Bucheit (Cincinnati, Ohio/LaSalle) came off the bench to score 11 points and dish out seven assists and Walker chipped in with 10 points and four rebounds.
That brings the Tigers into the NCAC Tournament semifinals, a level which they have reached in each of the 15 conference tournaments in which they have played. On Thursday, Wittenberg finds itself in a match-up opposite fourth-seeded Wabash at 7:45 p.m. in the HPER Center. Second-seeded and sixth-ranked Wooster opens up semifinal play against third-seeded Ohio Wesleyan at 5:30 p.m., also in the HPER Center. The championship game is scheduled for a 3 p.m. tip-off - at Wittenberg, regardless of Thursday's outcomes.
Next: 2/26 vs. Wabash, 7:45 p.m.
NCAC Tournament Semifinals
February 21, 2004
Wittenberg Men's And Women's Basketball Teams Win Conference Championships With Identical 16-0 Records SPRINGFIELD, Ohio - For the first time since the 1993-94 school year, the Wittenberg University men's and women's basketball teams have won the North Coast Athletic Conference regular season championships with perfect 16-0 records. Wittenberg is the only school ever to accomplish the feat. Read More ...
February 19, 2004
 |
| Dane Borchers |
The two wins clinched the Tigers' third North Coast Athletic Conference regular season title in the last four years and their 10th crown since joining the conference in 1989. Wittenberg, which now has four straight 20-win seasons, improved to 21-3 overall and 15-0 in the NCAC and extended its conference regular season win streak to 21 in a row, dating back to Feb. 1, 2003, at Allegheny.
In a highly-charged atmosphere at Wooster on Saturday, the Tigers accomplished one of the tallest of tasks in NCAC men's basketball by winning on the Fighting Scots' home floor. The Tigers slipped past the Scots, 73-62, for the second time in the 2003-04 season.
The first half was an outstanding back-and-forth affair, with Wittenberg coming out on top by halftime, 38-32. Shooting percentage was the difference as the Tigers made 14-of-27 shots for 52 percent, including a blistering 6-of-9 from three-point range for 67 percent. Wooster was 12-of-28 from the field but just 3-of-12 from long range. The sharp-shooting Tigers closed the half with a clutch jumper in the lane by junior guard Kenny Molz (Kettering, Ohio/Fairmont).
In the second half, senior forward Peter Walker (Louisville, Ky./St. Xavier) drained two clutch three-pointers to key the victory. The first drew the Tigers within one point at the 7:11 mark and the second gave the Tigers what turned out to be an insurmountable 62-57 lead at the 1:43 mark. Other clutch offensive plays were turned in by sophomore center Daniel Russ (Louisville, Ky./Trinity), who hit two shots from close range to cap a game-changing seven-point run, Walker on a put-back basket, and sophomore forward Kenny Brady (Reading, Ohio/Reading), who scored twice in the lane in the late-going.
The Tigers were struggling from the free throw line until it counted most as they hit 11-of-12 shots from the charity stripe in the final three minutes, including a perfect 8-of-8 in the final minute. Wittenberg became just the second team all season to beat the Scots on the boards, claiming a 39-35 advantage. Walker led all scorers and rebounders in the game with 18 points and nine rebounds. Brady finished with 14 points and seven rebound and Russ added 13 points, five boards and two blocked shots. Junior guard Danny Brywczynski (Dayton, Ohio/Northmont) was superb again, finishing with five points, five assists and zero turnovers in 29 minutes at the point.
Pushed into another "gut check" on Wednesday at Ohio Wesleyan, the Tigers did what they had to do, using a 13-4 run in the closing minutes to open up a tight game and earn a hard-fought 60-50 victory.
Ohio Wesleyan led 25-22 at halftime after rallying from an early 6-0 deficit. The second half was back-and-forth until Walker buried a three-pointer that gave the Tigers a 50-46 cushion with 3:35 to go. Wittenberg closed the game on a 13-4 run to sealed the game. Down the stretch, the Tigers hit 8-of-10 free throws, finishing the game an outstanding 19-of-21 from the charity stripe.
Wittenberg was paced offensively by sophomore center Dane Borchers (Russia, Ohio/Russia), who came off the bench to score a career-high 17 points and add six rebounds. Brady added 14 points and seven rebounds and Walker added 13 points and seven boards.
The Tigers can wrap up the second perfect 16-0 NCAC regular season in school history with a win Saturday against Allegheny. It's Jam the Gym! day at the HPER Center, with spirit groups competing for prizes.
Next: 2/21 vs. Allegheny, 4 p.m.
February 12, 2004
 |
| Kenny Molz |
Along with the 15 straight overall wins in 2003-04, Wittenberg, which is now ranked No. 10 in the nation, is riding a 19-game NCAC regular season win streak, dating back to last February and a loss at Allegheny. That streak was extended with wins over Hiram on Saturday and Earlham on Wednesday.
Against Hiram, it was not as easy as some might have expected, but the Tigers found a way to get it done, fending off a stern challenge from the homestanding Hiram Terriers, 75-57, on Saturday night.
The key to the game was free throw shooting. Both teams shot exceptionally well from the charity stripe, but the Tigers attempted 19 more shots and gained 16 extra points from that location.
Wittenberg held the lead from the opening tip, scoring on four of its first five possessions to take an 8-0 lead out of the gate. The Tigers stretched the lead to as much as 15 during the first half before heading into the locker room with a 35-25 lead. In the second half, the Terriers whittled the lead down to 41-40 before Wittenberg opened some breathing room back up with a seven-point run. Hiram could get no closer than six points the rest of the way.
Wittenberg, which won for the 32nd straight time against Hiram, put four players in double figures, led by sophomore center Daniel Russ (Louisville, Ky./Trinity) with 17 points and eight rebounds. Junior forward Andy Bucheit (Cincinnati, Ohio/LaSalle) added 15 points and seven rebounds in 23 productive minutes off the bench, sophomore forward Kenny Brady (Reading, Ohio/Reading) chipped in with 12 points and five rebounds, and senior forward Peter Walker (Louisville, Ky./St. Xavier) checked in with 10 points.
Against Earlham, the Tigers made it 15 straight wins with a convincing 87-51 win. Since defeating fifth-ranked Wooster on Jan. 21 at home, the Tigers have encountered four foes on their home floor and won each game by at least 21 points - and the last three games, against Hiram, Wabash and Earlham, have been won by an average of 38 points. The win was Wittenberg's ninth straight against Earlham and the 40th win in the last 42 meetings.
For the second game in a row, Wittenberg never trailed. The Tigers opened the game with a 14-2 run and never looked back, stretching the first-half lead to as much as 23 and then pouring it on in the second half. The final margin of 36 was the largest of the game, thanks to a game-ending 8-0 run over the final 2:07 by the Tiger reserves.
There were two keys to the game. The first was turnovers, as in a school record-tying four for Wittenberg to 17 for Earlham, leading to a points off turnovers differential of 25-2 in favor of the Tigers. The second was shooting percentage as Wittenberg drained 36-of-61 shots from the field, including 6-of-14 from three-point range, for a season-high 59 percent. Earlham made just 28 percent of its shots in the first half en route to a 19-of-57 performance for the game (33 percent). Included in those numbers was a 5-of-22 night from three-point range.
The Tigers, whose reserves outscored Earlham 37-7 in the game, were paced by Walker's 18 points and four rebounds. Russ added 12 points, three boards and two blocks and sophomore center Dane Borchers (Russia, Ohio/Russia) checked in with 10 points and seven rebounds in 15 productive minutes off the bench. Thirteen of the 15 Wittenberg players who saw action scored at least two points in the game, including junior guard Kenny Molz (Kettering, Ohio/Fairmont), who provided a spark with two points, five assists and two steals.
Next up is the game everyone in the NCAC points toward each year. The Tigers head to Wooster for a match-up of No. 5 vs. No. 10 in the latest d3hoops.com poll. Wittenberg won the season's first game between the two perennial national powers by a 72-62 count in Springfield.
Wittenberg leads the overall series 44-36, including a 19-14 advantage since joining the NCAC prior to the 1989-90 season. No other conference opponent has even half the number of wins over the Tigers during that same span of time.
Next: 2/14 at Wooster, 7:30 p.m.
February 5, 2004
|
|
| Peter Walker |
The two wins moved the Tigers to 11-0 in the North Coast Athletic Conference and maintained the team's one-game advantage over nationally ranked Wooster. Wittenberg has won 13 straight games overall to improve to 17-3. The Tigers' last loss came on Dec. 10 against nationally ranked Otterbein.
Wittenberg, ranked No. 18 in the latest d3hoops.com poll, had to struggle past Denison before coming through with a 67-56 win. It was the Tigers' 16th straight win in the series with Denison and the 52nd Tiger win in the last 53 meetings, dating back to 1969.
The final score wasn't indicative of how close the game really was. The lead changed hands 13 times and the two teams were tied six times, the last coming at 55-55 with 3:45 remaining. Wittenberg outscored its hosts 14-1 in the final 4:03 and held the Big Red scoreless over the final three minutes. The Tigers tied it at 55 on a pair of free throws by senior forward Peter Walker (Louisville, Ky./St. Xavier) and then took the lead on a clutch three-pointer by junior forward Andy Bucheit (Cincinnati, Ohio/LaSalle) with 3:14 remaining. Down the stretch, Wittenberg hit 7-of-8 from the free throw line, including four straight by senior guard Rod Emmons (South Bend, Ind./John Adams).
The Tigers won the rebounding battle, 41-30, and hit 45 percent from the field - but just 3-of-20 from three-point range. The key was timing - Wittenberg hit its last two treys, first by junior guard Danny Brywczynski (Dayton, Ohio/Northmont) to tie the game at 53-53 late in the game and then the aforementioned bucket by Bucheit.
Walker led all scorers with 25 points and added eight rebounds and two blocked shots. Sophomore center Daniel Russ (Louisville, Ky./Trinity) chipped in with seven points and 11 rebounds, including five offensive, and Emmons added eight points, five rebounds and three assists.
On Wednesday, the Tigers buried a cold-shooting Wabash Little Giants team, 84-46, in the HPER Center. It was Wittenberg's second straight win this season and seventh in the last eight meetings with the Little Giants. Wabash has never won a game in Springfield and trails the overall series, 18-5.
Wabash held three leads early in the first half before Wittenberg went on a 14-2 run to claim the lead for good. Wittenberg added another 11-0 run to open up an insurmountable 19-point lead moments later. The Tigers led 41-22 at halftime, thanks in part to just two turnovers and six three-pointers. In the second half, Wittenberg opened on a 7-0 run and eventually widened the lead to the final of 38 points.
Wittenberg easily won the battle of the boards, claiming a 51-35 rebounding advantage, and the Tigers' defense stifled the young Little Giants into 28 percent shooting from the field.
The Tigers got 16 points, 11 rebounds and three assists from sophomore sensation Kenny Brady (Reading, Ohio/Reading), good for game-highs in the first two categories. Walker added 15 points, four rebounds and two assists in another fine all-around game. Emmons chipped in with nine points on a trio of three-pointers and Brywczynski finished with five points and five assists in just 17 minutes of action. For the fourth time in the last six games, Brywczynski finished without a turnover.
Next: 2/7 at Hiram, 6 p.m.
January 29, 2004
|
|
| Daniel Russ |
Wittenberg, ranked 21st in the latest d3hoops.com poll, leads the NCAC by one game over seventh-ranked Wooster and two games over Ohio Wesleyan, and has already beaten both challengers. The Tigers haven't lost in NCAC regular season action since Feb. 1, 2003 at Allegheny, a win streak that stands at 15. They will attempt to build upon that streak in the next week with a road game Saturday at Denison and a home game Wednesday against Wabash.
In Saturday's 91-49 victory over the visiting Hiram College Terriers, Wittenberg Head Coach Bill Brown recorded career win No. 300. Prior to the 2003-04 season, 52 active NCAA Division III head coaches had 300 wins or more, putting Brown in elite company. Brown's career record is now 301-159 in 17 seasons, including 11 at Wittenberg, five at Kenyon and one at Wooster. His record at Wittenberg is a sparkling 241-60, including this season's 15-3.
The outcome of the game was in doubt for just a short time. With the score tied at six at the 16:25 mark of the first half, Wittenberg went on a 15-0 run and never looked back. The lead extended to as much as 30 points before halftime, and it got as high as 43 points with 9:24 left in the game.
Wittenberg put forth an extremely balanced offensive attack, with five players reaching double figures. Among the starting unit, no one played more than 20 minutes and as a group they wound up with just two turnovers in the game. Sophomore Kenny Brady (Reading, Ohio/Reading) led the way with 15 points, senior Peter Walker (Louisville, Ky./St. Xavier) added 11 points and a team-high seven rebounds, senior Rod Emmons (South Bend, Ind./John Adams) chipped in with 11 points, five rebounds, two assists and two steals, and sophomore Daniel Russ (Louisville, Ky./Trinity) checked in with seven points, four rebounds and three assists. Rounding out the starting five was junior point guard Danny Brywczynski (Dayton, Ohio/Northmont), who has been outstanding of late. He finished with 11 points on 4-of-4 shooting from the field (3-of-3 from three-point range), five assists and two rebounds.
When the Wittenberg Tigers and the Earlham Quakers hook up on the basketball court, the contrast in styles is obvious. And over the last four seasons, Wittenberg's power inside game and stout defense has been far too much for the Earlham up-tempo and three-point shooting, as it was again on Wednesday night as the Tigers posted an 84-53 win on the Quakers' home court.
The game was close through halftime, although Wittenberg's lead never dropped below five points after the Tigers raced out to a 13-2 lead in the game's opening five minutes. But in the second half, Wittenberg quickly stretched a 43-31 halftime advantage into a 66-36 rout with a 23-5 run in the first 10:30. The lead hit 34 points on several occasions late in the half before settling in at 84-53.
The Tigers outscored Earlham 28-8 in the paint and claimed a 38-28 rebounding advantage. Another key, as it has been throughout Wittenberg's 11-game win streak, was excellent guard play as the Tigers committed just seven turnovers, with the starting unit accounting for just one ballhandling miscue. And finally, the Tigers shot the ball better than they have all season, draining 57 percent of their shots from the field, including 7-of-17 from three-point range.
Walker led all scorers with 19 points, followed by Russ with 14 points and Brady with 10 points and a game-high six rebounds. All 15 players in uniform for Wittenberg played at least three minutes in the game.
Also of note, Brywczynski continued his stellar play, scoring eight points on 2-of-2 shooting from three-point range and 2-of-2 shooting from the free throw line, and dishing out a season-high seven assists against zero turnovers. Brywczynski has just one turnover in his last four games and has improved his assist-to-turnover ratio to 37-to-17.
Next: 1/31 at Denison, 3 p.m.
January 24, 2004
Wittenberg University Men's Basketball Head Coach Bill Brown Wins 300th Career Game
SPRINGFIELD, Ohio - Wittenberg University Men's Basketball Head Coach Bill Brown reached another milestone with Saturday's 91-49 victory over the visiting Hiram College Terriers. Now in his 17th season as a head coach and his 11th directing his alma mater's men's basketball program, Brown earned his 300th career victory. Read More ...
January 22, 2004
 |
| Danny Brywczynski |
After failing to score for the first five minutes of the game and trailing 18-10 at the 10:36 mark of the first half, the Tigers outscored visiting Ohio Wesleyan, 60-31, the rest of the way to stomp the Battling Bishops, 70-49, on Wednesday in Springfield.
The win was Wittenberg's ninth in a row this season, and the Tigers' 99th victory in the 140-game series with Ohio Wesleyan. It was the eighth straight win for Wittenberg in the series and the 47th in the last 48 meetings, dating back to 1978.
The Bishops came out strong, building leads of 7-0, 15-7 and 18-10 over the course of the game's first 10 minutes before the Tigers rallied. A three-pointer by junior Andy Bucheit (Cincinnati, Ohio/LaSalle), a lay-up by freshman Jack Hemenway (Centerville, Ohio/Centerville) and another triple by Bucheit evened the score at 18-18 with 8:53 remaining. The two teams battled back and forth the rest of the half until Bucheit drained his third three-pointer of the first half with 1:50 remaining to give the Tigers a 30-27 lead. He was fouled on the play and hit that shot as well.
The second half was all Wittenberg. Leading 37-34 at the 16:20 mark, Wittenberg ripped off the next seven points to build a 10-point lead. Then leading 52-44 at the 10:17 mark, the Tigers ended the game with a 18-5 burst.
There were several keys to the game, starting with tremendous three-point shooting for the Tigers. They shot a sizzling 64.7 percent from beyond the arc, a season-best, led by Bucheit, who had a career night with a school record 5-of-5 from three-point range and 7-of-7 from the field overall. Add in 1-of-1 from the free throw line and Bucheit had a 20-point night, just four points shy of his career high. While Bucheit was doing the majority of his damage from the outside, sophomore Kenny Brady (Reading, Ohio/Reading) was opening things up inside with 19 points, 13 in the second half, eight rebounds and three assists. The Tigers are now 9-0 with Brady in the starting lineup.
Another key was turnovers, as in just eight for the Tigers, their second straight game in single digits in that category. Junior point guard Danny Brywczynski (Dayton, Ohio/Northmont) was the catalyst, draining two key first-half three-pointers and finishing with just one turnover.
For the fourth year in a row, the Tigers protected their home court in a regular season NCAC game against the College of Wooster, upending the fifth-ranked team in the nation, 72-62, on Saturday.
The Tigers did it in a most unconventional fashion, shooting just 38.5 percent from the field and 23.8 percent from three-point range, losing the rebounding battle 33-31 and falling behind early against one of the most skilled and deep teams in NCAA Division III this year. But after making just 19-of-40 free throws in a Wednesday night scare at Wabash, the Tigers set a school record by making 27-of-28 free throws. The win was the Tigers' sixth in the last eight meetings between the two teams.
In the storied Wittenberg/Wooster series, the two teams have rarely been separated by more than 10 points, and until the very late going that was again the case on Saturday. Wittenberg moved out to a 29-23 lead with 1:52 remaining in the first half, only to have the Scots rally back to take a 30-29 lead with 33 seconds left. But a Peter Walker (Louisville, Ky./St. Xavier) three-pointer just before the halftime buzzer gave the Tigers a huge boost of momentum.
In the second half, Wooster managed just two one-point leads, 39-38 at the 13:20 mark and 41-40 at the 12:18 mark. But a Dane Borchers (Russia, Ohio/Russia) jumper at the 11:36 mark kickstarted a 7-0 Tiger run that gave Wittenberg the lead for good. It stretched out to as much as 11 points on three occasions late in the half. Wittenberg made 12-of-12 from the charity stripe inside the final two minutes.
Wittenberg was led by the Walker's 14 points, 12 of which came in the first half. Brady added 13 points and six rebounds. Sophomore center Daniel Russ (Louisville, Ky./Trinity) chipped in with 10 points, four rebounds and two blocked shots despite foul trouble that limited him to 20 minutes of action. Another key to the game was turnovers as Wooster committed 13, while Wittenberg tied a season-low with seven. Senior guard Rod Emmons (South Bend, Ind./John Adams) and Brywczynski were the primary ballhandlers, and they combined for 51 minutes of action and zero turnovers.
Next up for the Tigers are NCAC games against two young but fast-improving teams, Hiram on Saturday at home and Earlham on Wednesday on the road.
Next: 1/24 vs.Hiram, 3 p.m.
January 16, 2004
 |
| Andy Bucheit |
No team other than Wittenberg and Wooster has won an NCAC regular season championship in the last 15 years, and the two teams have split 13 of the last 15 NCAC Tournament titles as well. Ranked first and third respectively on the all-time victories list for NCAA Division III men's basketball teams, Wittenberg and Wooster enter the contest with identical 5-0 conference records. Last year, each team held serve with a regular season win on its home court.
In the last week, Wittenberg picked up two more conference wins, defeating Denison at home on Saturday, 74-29, and Wabash on the road on Wednesday, 58-46.
Against Denison, the Tigers put the defensive clamps down. It was the lowest point total for a Wittenberg opponent since 1992 when Defiance dropped a 76-28 decision to the Tigers, also in Springfield.
Starting with a jumper by senior forward Peter Walker (Louisville, Ky./St. Xavier) at the 14:35 mark of the first half that gave the Tigers the lead for good and followed by a three-pointer by freshman guard Pat Denbow (Louisville, Ky./St. Xavier), Wittenberg went on a 13-0 run and held Denison scoreless for more than 11 minutes. In the second half, Wittenberg poured it on after taking a 31-14 lead into the locker room. The Tigers scored the first six points of the second stanza and buried the Big Red with 52 percent shooting.
Wittenberg put four players in double figures, led by Walker's 15 points, five rebounds and three assists. Sophomore forward Kenny Brady (Reading, Ohio/Reading) was outstanding again with 12 points, 14 rebounds, five assists and two blocks. And junior guards Andy Bucheit (Cincinnati, Ohio/LaSalle) and Danny Brywczynski (Dayton, Ohio/Northmont) each chipped in with 10 points. Brywczynski, the team's starting point guard, enjoyed a second straight game without a turnover, showing that he has worked his way back into the flow after a broken hand in the preseason.
Against Wabash, Wittenberg didn't play one of its best games, but the Tigers did just enough in the hornet's nest that is Wabash's Chadwick Court to escape the host Little Giants, 58-46.
The Tigers fell behind 14-9 midway through the first half before clamping down on the Little Giants, who came into the game tied for first place in the NCAC. Covering the last eight minutes of the first half, Wittenberg outscored the host team 15-1 to take a 24-15 lead into the locker room. After scoring the first two points of the second half to cap the run at 17-1, Wittenberg extended the lead to as much as 42-26. Wabash made a big run over the final 11 minutes, but the Little Giants' rally ultimately fell short.
Wittenberg was almost done in by poor free throw shooting as the Tigers managed just 19-of-40 from the charity stripe, but Wabash was stifled offensively to the tune of 31 percent shooting from the field. The Tigers also outrebounded Wabash 43-34. The Tigers were led by Bucheit, who came off the bench to score 13 points and grab four rebounds. Sophomore center Daniel Russ (Louisville, Ky./Trinity) added 11 points and six rebounds in his first start in more than a week due to illness. And Brady added nine points, six rebounds and three assists in another outstanding all-around game.
Next: 1/17 vs. Wooster, 7:30 p.m.
January 9, 2004
 |
| Kenny Brady |
The Tigers' three losses have been by a combined 14 points and all have come against quality competition. After winning the Kiwanis-Wittenberg Tip-Off Classic on Nov. 22, the Tigers dropped a 66-64 overtime decision to Wisconsin-Eau Claire in the first round of the Hanover John R. Collier Tournament. On Dec. 2, Wittenberg fell on the road at nationally ranked NAIA Division II foe Cedarville by a final of 70-68. And on Dec. 10, the Tigers were defeated at home by nationally ranked NCAA Division III rival Otterbein.
Of late, the wins have been piling up again, despite a rash of injuries. Five different players projected to play significant minutes this season have missed a combined 22 games, including leading scorer and rebounder Daniel Russ (Louisville, Ky./Trinity), who was sidelined by illness in Wednesday's 89-56 victory over Kenyon.
In that game, however, plenty of other individuals picked up the slack. Senior forward Peter Walker (Louisville, Ky./St. Xavier) scored 21 points and pulled down 11 rebounds to lead the way and improve his season averages to 13.7 points and 7.5 rebounds per game, both career highs. Walker, in his second year as a starter, is second on the team with more than 25 minutes per contest and also second with 24 assists on the season.
Russ is having a breakout season in the post, leading the team and ranking in the top seven in the NCAC in scoring, rebounding and blocked shots. He tops the team with 15.6 points and 8.3 rebounds per outing, and he has 23 of Wittenberg's 25 blocks on the season.
Several other players have played key roles in the Tigers' early season successes, none more than sophomore Kenny Brady (Reading, Ohio/Reading), who has emerged as an offensive weapon since getting his first start of the season at Urbana on Dec. 13. In that game, Brady nearly became the first player in school history to record a triple-double as he poured in 12 points, nine assists and seven rebounds as the Tigers defeated the NAIA Division II Blue Knights 80-59. In his five starts, Brady has averaged 11.7 points, 4.4 assists and 7.2 rebounds per game to up his season numbers to 8.4 points, 2.2 assists and 4.0 rebounds per outing on the season as a whole.
The Tigers are 3-0 in the NCAC with a tough stretch of gamed awaiting them. After the home game against Denison, Wittenberg travels to Wabash on Jan. 14 and then hosts Wooster and Ohio Wesleyan on Jan. 17 and 21. Wabash, Wooster and Ohio Wesleyan are all tied for the NCAC lead currently with Wittenberg.
Next: 1/10 vs. Denison, 3 p.m.
December 29, 2003
Wittenberg Athletic Broadcasts Find New Home On Radio Dial
SPRINGFIELD, Ohio - Wittenberg University athletic teams have found a new home on the radio dial, WUSO-FM, the student-run campus radio station that can be found at the 89.1 frequency in the Springfield area. The first game, a men's basketball contest between Wittenberg and Ohio Northern University, was carried on the station's airwaves on Monday, Dec. 22. The next broadcast is scheduled for Tuesday, Dec. 30, when the Tiger men's and women's basketball teams host a doubleheader that begins at 5:30 p.m. in the HPER Center. Read More ...
November 20, 2003
 |
| Rod Emmons |
Men's tournament participants for 2003 include Washington University from St. Louis, Mo., Eastern University from Philadelphia, Pa., the University of Wisconsin-Platteville from Platteville, Wis., and Wittenberg. Action gets underway Friday at 6 p.m. as Washington University and Wisconsin-Platteville square off, followed by a clash between the host Tigers and Eastern at 8 p.m. or 30 minutes following the conclusion of the first game. On Saturday, the consolation game is slated for 3 p.m. or 30 minutes following the conclusion of the women's consolation game, and the championship contest is slated for 8 p.m. or 30 minutes following the conclusion of the women's championship game.
Wittenberg has won 17 of the 20 title games in the tournament's history, with the lone exceptions being in 1986 against Centre College, 1997 against the University of Chicago and last year against Ohio Dominican University.
The men's field includes just one team that made the 2003 NCAA Division III Tournament, but three of the four participating programs are regulars in the postseason. Washington University finished 24-2 in 2002-03 and was ranked No. 1 in the nation for much of the season as the Bears claimed the University Athletic Association's regular season championship. Eastern University is coming off its best season in school history at 12-15, and Wisconsin-Platteville, winner of five NCAA Division III national championships in the 1990s, finished 11-15 a year ago in the rugged Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Association.
The host Tigers posted an overall record of 20-6 in 2002-03 and return three starters this year in hopes of improving upon that mark and returning to the NCAA Division III Tournament for the third time in the last four years. Leading the charge will be the senior tandem of guard Rod Emmons (South Bend, Ind./John Adams) and forward Peter Walker (Louisville, Ky./St. Xavier). Both were full-time starters a year ago and will be counted on to pick up some of the scoring slack from departed all-conference performers B.J. Harris and Kevin Longley.
Next: 11/21-22 Kiwanis-Wittenberg Tip-Off Classic
November 6, 2003
|
|
| Peter Walker |
The Tigers return seven letterwinners, including three starters, after a 20-6 overall record in 2002-03. The Tigers are the winningest team in NCAA Division III history with 1,458 victories since the 1911-12 season, and last year's 20-win season was the 47th consecutive non-losing campaign.
Wittenberg, the winningest men's basketball program in the history of NCAA Division III, returns seven letterwinners, including three starters, in 2003-04 in hopes of returning to the top of the NCAC for the third time in the last four years.
In 2002-03, the Tigers' two-year reign as NCAC regular season champions ended with a second-place finish. Still, the Tigers were able to achieve another 20-win season, compiling an overall record of 20-6, including a mark of 14-2 in the NCAC.
Seniors Rod Emmons (South Bend, Ind./John Adams) and Peter Walker (Louisville, Ky./St. Xavier) will lead the charge in 2003-04. Walker, a 6-7 forward, was third on the team in scoring (10.3) and rebounding (4.5). He shot better than 50 percent from the field and a team-best 80 percent from the free throw line. Emmons, a 6-1 wing, started 24 of the team's 26 games, averaging a team-high 25.8 minutes per outing as well as 9.0 points and 3.3 rebounds per game. He posted a career-high 38 points in an overtime victory at Wabash, the highest point total for a Wittenberg player in more than 10 years.
Other returning letterwinners expected to vie for starting positions and key playing roles are junior point guard Danny Brywczynski (Dayton, Ohio/Northmont), junior wing Andy Bucheit (Cincinnati, Ohio/LaSalle), junior wing Brett Bowen (Arcadia, Ind./Hamilton Heights), junior guard Kenny Molz (Kettering, Ohio/Fairmont) and sophomore center Daniel Russ (Louisville, Ky./Trinity).
Brywczynski started all 26 games and topped the team in assists with 58 while averaging 4.9 points. Bucheit ranked among the NCAC leaders in three-point shooting percentage (46.8) while averaging 9.0 points and 2.5 rebounds per outing. Bowen worked his way into the playing rotation by midseason and averaged 2.4 points and 1.3 rebounds. Molz was a valuable reserve at the point guard position, contributing 45 assists and 5.0 points per game. Russ proved to be one of the best freshmen in the conference as he appeared in all 26 games off the bench and averaged 8.5 points and 4.3 rebounds per game. He also led the team in blocked shots with 21.
Next: 11/21-22 Kiwanis-Wittenberg Tip-Off Classic
November 4, 2003
Wittenberg Men's and Women's Basketball Teams Projected to Finish Second in NCAC Preseason Balloting
SPRINGFIELD, Ohio - The Wittenberg University men's and women's basketball teams both were picked to finish second in preseason voting by coaches and media after the North Coast Athletic Conference's 20th annual basketball media day, which was held today via teleconference. Read More ...
November 4, 2003
Sarah Jurewicz, Beth Green, Ryan Taylor and Matt Croci Make NCAC Men's and Women's Basketball All-Decade Teams
CLEVELAND -- Ohio Wesleyan's Travis Schwab and Katie Sturtz head a list of stellar student-athletes named to the North Coast Athletic Conference's 20th Anniversary men's and women's basketball teams. Schwab, the first men's basketball player in NCAC history to be named to the All-NCAC first team as a freshman, sophomore and junior, is the only active player on the two special anniversary rosters. The senior post led the league in both scoring (21.2 ppg) and offensive rebounds (3.12 rpg) last season. He was the 2001 Newcomer of the Year as a freshman. Schwab is the league's active career leader in points (1,484), field goals (566), free throws (314), rebounds (571) and blocked shots (55). Read More ...
September 5, 2003
Wittenberg Partners With Stretch Internet to Provide High-Quality Internet Broadcasts of Athletic Events
SPRINGFIELD, Ohio - Wittenberg University Tiger sports fans have more reason than ever to be excited about the opening kickoff to the 2003-04 school year. Now anyone, anywhere can listen in on all the action - live via a new, state-of-the-art Internet feed made possible by alumni gifts and the university's athletic department. Read More ...
Copyright 2007 Wittenberg University Post Office Box 720 Springfield, Ohio 45501 800-677-7558
Non-discriminatory Policy Web Use Policy & Disclaimer Privacy Policy
© 2007 Wittenberg University
Non-discriminatory Policy Web Use Policy & Disclaimer Privacy Policy
© 2007 Wittenberg University