Wittenberg Claims Back-to-Back NCAC Tournament Titles - Feb 27, 2019

Second-seeded Wittenberg (23-5) captured back-to-back NCAC Men's Basketball Tournament titles after knocking off top-seeded Wooster (23-5) by a 79-75 margin on Saturday afternoon at Timken Gymnasium in Wooster, Ohio. As tournament champions, the Tigers have earned the league's automatic bid into the NCAA Division III Men's Basketball Tournament, which will open with first and second round games next weekend on campus sites.
The Scots jumped out to an early 4-0 lead, but the Tigers used a 7-0 run to takeover and hold the advantage for the next seven minutes. Wooster tied the game at 19-all and did not look back in the final 10:50 of the half to go into the locker room with a five-point lead, 41-36. The Scots' lead only lasted two minutes into the second frame, as Wittenberg went ahead 44-43 until Wooster tied it back up at 65-all. The Tigers went ahead, while Wooster kept it close, tying the game at 72-72. The two teams traded three-point baskets before a made layup with seven seconds left put Wittenberg up by two. Two clutch free throws would then secure the game and the Tigers seventh overall tournament title. Wittenberg held the advantage in points in the paint, 34-12, rebounds, 30-28, and shot 54.7 percent (29-of-53) from the floor, while Wooster's bench netted 16 points compared to the Tigers' reserves posting 10 points.
After recording 16 points, five rebounds, one assist, one steal and one block in the championship game Wittenberg sophomore James Johnson (6'6''-F) (Cincinnati, Ohio/Roger Bacon) collected the Al Van Wie Award as the tournament's most valuable player. In the three tournament games combined, Johnson scored 47 points, pulled in 13 rebounds, earned four steals, dished three assists and claimed two blocks.

NCAC Tournament Final: Wittenberg - Wooster 79-75
NCAC Tournament Semifinals:
Wooster - DePauw 73-52
Wittenberg - Wabash 89-75

Courtesy of northcoast.org