After a difficult on-the-road loss at Wooster last Saturday, the men’s basketball team bounced back at a home game this past Wednesday. The Tigers played in their ninth conference match-up, defeating the Kenyon Lords 73-62. The win improves the Tigers’ North Coast Athletic Conference record to 3-6 and their overall record to 5-11.
The Tigers dealt with a close score the entire game with 15 lead changes, and they entered the second half with only a two-point lead. It was sophomore Shane Edwards’ dunk in the second half that sparked not only new found energy in the Tigers, but also a nine-point run with just eight and a half minutes to go.
58 of the Tigers’ total 73 points came from the starters, with sophomore Cody Philippi leading the offense with 17 points. Philippi was joined by freshman Chris Sloneker and sophomore Jaelin Williams in double digit scoring. Sloneker contributed 15 points, and Williams brought 10. Junior Alex Fultz and Edwards rounded out the starters, each with eight points.
The Tigers shot 52 percent from the field, but just 50 percent from the line, compared to Kenyon’s 46 percent from the field and 71 percent from the line. The Wittenberg bench was able to add 15 points on the night, with the Lord’s bench able to only add eight.
The strong offensive performance can be attributed to the powerful defensive night, with the Tigers out-rebounding the Lords 42-21. Williams posted the only double-double for the night, leading the defense with 11 rebounds to go along with his 10 points. Edwards also added 11 rebounds to the Tigers’ total 42.
The Tigers next few match-ups will be conference games. The Tigers play at home Saturday, Jan. 24 against Allegheny, and they will follow that game with an on-the-road trip to Wabash on Wednesday, Jan. 28.
