Springfield, Ohio- The DePauw men's basketball team fell to Wittenberg 77-73 on the road in overtime. The DePauw Tigers drop to 11-10 and 6-6 in North Coast Athletic Conference play, while the Wittenberg Tigers improve to 14-7 overall and 8-4 in conference play.
 
The Wittenberg Tigers took an early lead from the jump, going up 7-0 just four minutes into the game. Controlling the pace and finding their rhythm quickly, Wittenberg would extend its lead to 10 with seven minutes left in the half following a made shot by Daniel Asher. Wittenberg maintained its lead for the entirety of the first half after holding DePauw to just 27.3 from the field. However, by the end of the first half, the DePauw Tigers managed to claw its way back into the game at the line, shooting 6-7, cutting Wittenberg's lead to just five heading into the second half.
 
Ronald Johnson put up 17 of his 24 total points in the second half, pushing the DePauw offense and keeping the DePauw Tigers within nine of its opponent. Unfortunately for DePauw, every basket made on its end had a response on the other end by Wittenberg.
 
With four minutes left in regulation, Caleb Washington's offensive presence tied the game at 55. Following Washington's back-to-back three-point plays, a defensive rebound and foul led to two free throws and the DePauw Tigers' first lead up 57-55. The final three minutes of play were riddled with fouls on both ends of the court, resulting in four of the eight lead changes during regulation, ultimately forcing overtime. 
 
In overtime, Wittenberg found its footing fast, sinking three of its four threes while holding DePauw to just four-for-nine from the field. Late free throws by Wittenberg's Trey Killens sunk the DePauw Tigers' hopes of an overtime comeback, resulting in a 77-73 loss, its third NCAC defeat in a row. 
 
Johnson led DePauw with career highs of 24 points and seven assists, while Reph Stevenson put up 19, and Washington added 13 points off the bench. Stevenson tallied his fifth double-double after grabbing ten rebounds for the evening, while Kyle Lillwitz finished the night with eight.
 
Killens paced Wittenberg with 21 points and two assists, and Jeff Queen added 11 points and led the Wittenberg Tigers in assists with six.
 
DePauw shot 37.7 percent from the field to Wittenberg's 42.9 percent. Wittenberg finished the night 9-21 from behind the arc, while DePauw was held to just 6-23. Though DePauw had a 39-30 rebounding edge, Wittenberg capitalized on its forced turnovers, outscoring DePauw 15-4 in points off turnovers.
 
DePauw looks to bounce back at home on Saturday, February 3. The Tigers will host the Battling Bishops of Ohio Wesleyan University at 1 p.m. in Neal Fieldhouse.