HIRAM, Ohio – December 4, 2021 – Hiram men's basketball fell in a North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) contest vs. Wittenberg, 79-72, inside Price Gymnasium on Saturday afternoon.

Tyler McMillion scored six of Hiram's first nine points as the Terriers started hot. Kevin Beans Jr. put down a dunk forcing a Wittenberg timeout as Hiram led 15-6 with 13:56 left in the first.

As Wittenberg looked to battle back, Doug Sartain knocked down a three as the home team continued to have some breathing room now up 21-15.

Coming down the stretch, Oliver Clingain made back-to-back layups has Hiram sat in the driver's seat up ten with just over eight minutes left in the half.

With under two minutes left in the half, a pair of three-point shots from Wittenberg made the contest a three-point game as Rashaad Ali-Shakir and James Johnson made it 35-32 at the 1:46 mark. The Tigers scored right before the break, as Hiram led 35-34 going into the break.

Wittenberg jumped out to a seven-point lead early in the second half, but Hiram kept things within reach after McMillion made a layup as Hiram now trailed 46-41 with 15:45 left in the half.

Moving along in the second half, the road side looked to break it open as Josh Tolliver made a layup as the Tigers were now up nine at 54-45 with 11:11 remaining.

Coming down the wire in the second half, Wittenberg still had a double-digit lead as the Terriers looked to chip away. Ishmaaeel Hayes-Muhammad and Sartain knocked down three balls in back-to-back possessions with the score now 73-62 Wittenberg with under three minutes to play.

A series of made shots by Hiram and turnovers from Wittenberg saw the Terriers quickly get back into the game late. After a Beans Jr. three-ball brought Hiram within single digits, a Wittenberg turnover led to a Hayes-Muhammad layup with another Tigers turnover following. McMillion scored the ensuing layup as Hiram now trailed 76-72 with 45 seconds left.

Wittenberg made their remaining free throws in the final moments of the game, as the Tigers went on to win 79-72.

McMillion scored a season-high 18 points with seven rebounds. Clingain finished with 15 points and Hayes-Muhammad and Beans Jr. each had 12.

Landon Martin and Levi Boettcher led for Wittenberg with 18 each.

As a team, Hiram shot 50.0% from the field and 36.4% from the three-point arc. Wittenberg shot 52.6% from the field and 44.4% from three.

Hiram falls to 2-5 on the season and 0-2 in NCAC play. The team next plays at Denison on Wednesday, Dec. 8 at 8 p.m.