Greencastle, Ind. - All five DePauw starters scored in double figures and the Tigers held on for a 78-73 North Coast Athletic Conference win over visiting Wittenberg. The hosts improved to 11-10 overall and 7-5 in the NCAC, while Wittenberg dropped to 8-12 overall and 4-7 in conference play.
Wittenberg led briefly during the first five minutes, but DePauw put together an 11-1 run to take the lead for good. The host Tigers led by as many as nine in the first half before Wittenberg scored the final five points of the first half to trim DePauw's lead to 36-32 at the break.
Early in the second half, DePauw's
Joe Smith hit a three and
Sam Jacobs added a bucket to push the lead to 47-37. Wittenberg responded with 10 straight to draw even at 47-47.
The margin stayed within seven the rest of the way with Wittenberg closing the gap to one on three occasions with the last coming at 66-65 with 3:23 left.Â
Reph Stevenson hit 3-of-4 free throws to push DePauw's lead to 72-67 with 36 seconds left. Wittenberg's Eddie Brown scored on a layup to trim the deficit to 72-69, but Smith knocked in a pair of free throws with 21 seconds remaining to extend the lead to 74-69.
Sam Miller nailed a three with 13 seconds left to bring Wittenberg to within two at 74-72.
Kyle Lillwitz pushed the lead to 76-72 with a pair of free throws before Cal Bavineau made one charity toss. Smith then sealed the win by making two free throws with seven seconds left.
Caleb Washington led DePauw with 20 points, while Stevenson recorded a double-double of 19 points and 10 rebounds. Jacobs and Smith each scored 13 and Lillwitz followed with 10. Smith's 13 were a career high. Washington and Lillwitz dished out three assists each.
Brown paced Wittenberg with 21 points and nine rebounds, while Cameron Harrison added points. Bavineau led the way with three assists.
DePauw shot 51.0 percent from the floor to Wittenberg's 48.1 percent and the hosts held a 27-23 rebounding edge.
DePauw returns to action on Saturday, Feb. 8, with a 4 p.m. NCAC game at Oberlin.
