The Capital University men's basketball team fell behind by double digits in the first half and was unable to recover Tuesday, falling 69-63 at Wittenberg in a non-conference affair at Springfield, Ohio.
The Crusaders (2-1 overall) made it a one-possession game with 32 second to play on a 3-pointer by junior Spencer Niekamp (St. Henry, Ohio), but were forced to foul on the ensuing possession.
The Tigers (1-1) hit 3-of-4 from the line in the waning moments to close out their first win of the year.
Senior Kelly Winter (Dublin, Ohio) led all scorers with 17 points, while Niekamp and junior Michael Sommer (Celina, Ohio) chipped in with 15 and 10 points, respectively.
Senior Tyler Munro (Lexington, Ohio; at right) added nine points on a trio of 3-pointers off the bench for the Crusaders, who shot 40.8 percent for the game and knocked down 16-of-20 (80 percent) from the free throw line.
Wittenberg shot 50 percent from the field, including a 57.1 percent clip in the first half, when it pushed its lead to double digits midway through the half and built on the advantage to lead 42-27 at the half.
Capital fought valiantly in the second, slowly cutting down its deficit and taking a 51-50 lead on a pair of free throws by Winter with 7:26 to play.
After the two teams traded possessions, the Tigers started on an 11-2 run, taking a 61-53 lead with just over three minutes on the clock.
The Crusaders resume play this Sunday in their 2011-12 home opener against Denison. Game time is slated for 2 p.m. at the Capital Center.
The Crusaders (2-1 overall) made it a one-possession game with 32 second to play on a 3-pointer by junior Spencer Niekamp (St. Henry, Ohio), but were forced to foul on the ensuing possession.
The Tigers (1-1) hit 3-of-4 from the line in the waning moments to close out their first win of the year.
Senior Kelly Winter (Dublin, Ohio) led all scorers with 17 points, while Niekamp and junior Michael Sommer (Celina, Ohio) chipped in with 15 and 10 points, respectively.
Senior Tyler Munro (Lexington, Ohio; at right) added nine points on a trio of 3-pointers off the bench for the Crusaders, who shot 40.8 percent for the game and knocked down 16-of-20 (80 percent) from the free throw line.
Wittenberg shot 50 percent from the field, including a 57.1 percent clip in the first half, when it pushed its lead to double digits midway through the half and built on the advantage to lead 42-27 at the half.
Capital fought valiantly in the second, slowly cutting down its deficit and taking a 51-50 lead on a pair of free throws by Winter with 7:26 to play.
After the two teams traded possessions, the Tigers started on an 11-2 run, taking a 61-53 lead with just over three minutes on the clock.
The Crusaders resume play this Sunday in their 2011-12 home opener against Denison. Game time is slated for 2 p.m. at the Capital Center.
