Wittenberg survives Allegheny's upset bid

Tigers remain two games up in NCAC after winning fourth straight.

Wittenberg's Josh McKee (left) is guarded by Allegheny's David DiBernardi during Saturday's game at Pam Evans Smith Arena in Springfield. Wittenberg won 79-72. McKee and teammate Zach Leahy each had 15 points for the Tigers. Staff Photo by Barbara J. Perenic

Barbara Perenic Wittenberg's Josh McKee (left) is guarded by Allegheny's David DiBernardi during Saturday's game at Pam Evans Smith Arena in Springfield. Wittenberg won 79-72. McKee and teammate Zach Leahy each had 15 points for the Tigers. Staff Photo by Barbara J. Perenic

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By David Jablonski, Staff Writer 11:01 PM Saturday, February 4, 2012

SPRINGFIELD — Again and again this season, the Wittenberg men’s basketball team has proven its ability to find a way to win — no matter the circumstances.

Down 17, it can rally. Up 15, it can blow the lead and still pull it out in the end. In a four-day span last week, the Tigers managed to win in both those scenarios.

Allegheny, the second-to-last team in the North Coast Athletic Conference standings, nearly pulled off the upset of the season Saturday at Pam Evans Smith Arena. The Gators trailed 71-70 with 1:39 to play, but Wittenberg scored the next seven points and won 79-72.

“We have a veteran team,” said Wittenberg senior Michael Cooper, who scored 13 points. “We have a lot of games between us. The games we don’t come out playing well, we try to dig deep and find a way. Even if it’s not pretty, a win’s a win.”

The Tigers improved to 17-4 and 11-1 in the NCAC with their fourth straight victory. With four games remaining in the regular season, they have a two-game lead over Wooster, which beat Wabash 77-59 on Saturday. Wittenberg plays at Wabash at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday and hosts Wooster at 7:30 p.m. Saturday — Saturday’s JV game has been canceled.

The Tigers nearly saw their two-game lead trimmed to one.

Allegheny (5-16, 3-9 NCAC) shot 59 percent from the field in the second half after trailing by as many as 15 points in the first half. Devone McLeod scored 13 of his 25 points in the last eight minutes. His 3-pointer with 1:39 to play ended a four-minute stretch in which Allegheny made six straight shots.

“They shot the ball very well,” Wittenberg coach Bill Brown said, “but they played hard throughout to give themselves a chance.”

The Tigers stayed in front of Allegheny during its hot streak by making free throws. In the decisive stretch, they made 9-of-10. A 3-pointer by Josh McKee with 33 seconds left secured the victory for Wittenberg. McKee and Zach Leahy each scored 15 to lead the Tigers, and Clayton Black had 14.

Wittenberg shot a season-best 11-of-24 from 3-point range, but some of that success was negated by 17 turnovers.

“They weren’t because of pressure,” Brown said. “They were either poor passing techniques or poor decisions of where to pass it. That was unfortunately an equalizing factor for them.”

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