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SPRINGFIELD, Ohio (January 10, 2024) – After entering the contest with a one-game lead over the Tigers for first place in the North Coast Athletic Conference standings, the Denison University men's basketball team lead for the entirety of regulation and held a three-point lead in the final 10 seconds, but was unable to hold on in a 71-68 overtime loss at Wittenberg University on Wednesday night.

Denison asserted itself early as a 10-0 run made it a 12-2 start to the game for the Big Red four minutes in. That run started with a 3-pointer by Kellon Smith and ended with a tough layup by K. Smith, and also featured a 3-pointer by Scotty Dean.

Wittenberg did cut it to 25-20 in the final five minutes of the first half and then to within one possession (25-23) in the final two minutes of the opening period. Then after a tip-in for the Tigers to make it a one-point game (26-25) in the final minute, a nice bounce pass from K. Smith found a cutting Emmett Burnside for the one-handed slam, and then a block and ensuing pass ahead by Ricky Radtke found K. Smith on the runout for an and-one with just one second on the clock, making it a six-point game (31-25) at halftime.

As it did in the first half, Denison came out strong to start the second half and opened it up to a 15-point lead (42-27) with an 11-2 run in the first five minutes of the period. The Tigers, however, had a big run in them and got it back to a four-point game (51-47) after an 11-0 run culminating with a 3-pointer with seven and a half minutes left to play.

After a free throw by Wittenberg made it a one-score game (57-54) with 4:42 on the clock, Dean answered with a big 3-pointer for Denison. Then with 2:36 left, a layup by Wittenberg made it a two-point game (60-58), but again the Big Red had the answer with an and-one by Radtke on the next possession.

A tough finish on a layup by Wittenberg's Trey Killens made it 63-60 Big Red entering the final minute of regulation, and then after a turnover by the Big Red with 44.3 seconds left, Wittenberg took a timeout with 25.3 seconds to go, and a floater by Killens from the middle of the lane was good with 15.4 seconds on the clock.

Denison was able to break the ensuing press from Wittenberg to get past midcourt and get Cameron Smith to the foul line with 9.4 seconds left. C. Smith made both shots to put Denison back up by three points, and then Denison elected to try and foul to keep Wittenberg from getting up a 3-pointer to tie it. Unfortunately for the Big Red, Cameron Harrison was fouled by C. Smith shooting a three with 1.6 seconds left, and he calmly sank all three shots to force overtime.

Wittenberg scored first in overtime, taking its first lead of the night, and then with Denison down by two points (69-67) in the final minute of overtime, Burnside went 1-for-2 from the free throw line with 51.2 seconds to go.

Radtke then secured the defensive rebound after the next Wittenberg possession to give Denison the ball down by just one point following a timeout with 21 seconds remaining. Denison tried to get it down low to Radtke, but Burnside's long pass was broken up, putting Killens to the free throw line with 8.8 seconds left. Killens went 1-for-2 at the line, leaving the door open for Denison, but Dean dribbled the ball off his foot trying to drive down the left side of the lane, effectively ending the game.

It was a tough loss for the Big Red, who were merely seconds away from taking a two-game lead over Wittenberg in the conference standings, and it was a big comeback win for a Wittenberg team that trailed by 15 points with 10 minutes left in regulation. Instead, Denison fell to 9-6 overall and 5-1 in the NCAC while Wittenberg improved to 11-4 and 5-1, tying for first place in the league.

Radtke led all scorers with 16 points on 5-for-7 shooting from the field and 6-for-7 shooting from the free throw line, and added a game-high nine rebounds, five assists and two blocks.

K. Smith and Trevor Reed both finished with 10 points while Dean had nine points on three 3-pointers, Burnside had seven points and eight rebounds, and C. Smith matched Burnside with seven points.

Denison shot 50 percent or better from the field in both halves, but was 0-for-3 in overtime and was just 5-for-21 (23.8 percent) from three for the game. Denison also committed 17 turnovers compared to eight for Wittenberg, and was outscored 17-6 in points off turnovers.

The Big Red won the rebounding battle, 33-31.

Next up, Denison will host the Owls of Kenyon College at 1 p.m. on Saturday, January 13.