Wittenberg ousted in second round of NCAA Tournament

Wittenberg staged a furious rally to try to stay alive in the NCAA Division III tournament, but Wisconsin-Oshkosh withstood the comeback bid for a 68-60 win Saturday night at Pam Evans Smith Arena.

The Tigers, returning to the tourney after a four-year absence and playing at home for the first time since 2006, trailed by 17 points in the first half and by 16 early in the second half.

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But Jordan Pumroy’s 3-pointer cut the deficit to 49-47 with 6:58 left, and Jacob Bertemes drove for a basket to tie the game with 6:10 left.

The Tigers (27-3) then took a 53-51 lead on Pumroy’s layup at 4:28. And Pumroy made one of two free throws for a 54-51 edge.

But Wisconsin-Oshkosh (22-7) scored five straight points, including a pair of foul shots from Jack Flynn with 3:00 to go, for a 56-54 edge. Connor Seipel’s jumper tied it at 56 with 1:55 left. But the Titans answered with a 3-pointer from Ben Boots 11 seconds later.

After Roy scored inside, Charlie Noone knocked down a back-breaking 3-pointer from the corner with 1:06 to go for a 62-58 edge.

Wittenberg missed and was forced to foul but could never catch up.

Roy led the Tigers, who had a bounce-back season after going 18-9 a year ago, with 13 points, while Mitch Balser and Seipel scored 10 each.

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