Springfield, Ohio - DePauw held Wittenberg to just two field goals over the final six minutes and used a 10-1 run to take the lead for good on the way to a 61-56 North Coast Athletic Conference road win. The visiting Tigers improved to 14-7 overall and 7-5 in the NCAC, while Wittenberg dropped to 14-6 overall and 7-4 in conference play.
DePauw scored eight straight in the first half to take a 14-6 lead with 9:49 left in the half. The Tigers' lead was still six before Wittenberg closed the half on a 7-0 run to take a 21-20 halftime lead.
The hosts scored the first five of the second half to extend the lead to 25-20. Wittenberg held a 34-29 advantage with 13:05 left before
Caleb Washington hit a jumper and
Eli Ellis knocked in a three to even the score. Nine lead changes followed before DePauw took the lead for good at 46-45 on
Brady Kunka's bucket with 6:06 left which started a 10-1 stretch.
Wittenberg closed to within three with 13 seconds left before Washington hit a pair of free throws to seal the victory.
Washington and Kunka each scored 16 in the win, while
Sam Jacobs added 10.
Reph Stevenson grabbed a game-high nine rebounds and
Joe Smith dished out three assists.
Eddie Brown led Wittenberg with 14 points and seven rebounds, while Sam Miller finished with 13 points and Tyler Galluch added 12. Noah Frayer had a team-high three assists.
DePauw shot 41.2 percent from the floor with Wittenberg shooting 32.8 percent. DePauw had a 43-28 rebounding edge and committed 12 turnovers to Wittenberg's three.
DePauw returns to action on Saturday, Feb. 7, when it hosts Oberlin at 3 p.m.
