The Little Giant seniors scored 28 of 30 second half points and 41 of 51 for the game. All six seniors played extensively and contributed key moments, but none bigger than Kyle Medeiros and Kyle Coffey in the waning moments.
The win gives the Little Giants (15-9) a home NCAC game Tuesday in the opening round of the conference tournament. Earlham will be making its second visit to Chadwick Court to open tourney play.
Medeiros hit an off-balance 3-pointer with just 35 seconds to play, 46-44, to give the Little Giants the lead for keeps.
"We were running our offense, it was kind of a weave and Adonis (Joseph) drove it and he got my man to commit to him," Medeiros said. "I cut up and took a dribble and threw it up and it went in.
"I hit those shots all of the time in open gym."
But the senior guard wasn’t through. He grabbed a defensive rebound at the other end of the floor then hit two free throws, 48-44. Witt’s Gregg Hill scored a quick layup but Kyle Coffey hit 3-of-4 free throws in the final minutes to secure the upset over D3Hoops.com’s No. 4-rated team. The Tigers were rated No. 1 earlier this season.
Coffey’s free throws sent a large student contingent into an even more delirious state.
"I could do it. I could do it," Coffey said of his thoughts at the free throw line with the game in the balance. "That’s something I take pride in, being 6-9 and a good free throw shooter. After I hit that first one I started smiling. I knew the game was ours. I love being in that position, it’s fun.
The two Kyles could hardly stop smiling until they turned to the importance of getting the win.
"This is the best game I’ve been a part of in my entire life – ever," said an emotional Medeiros. "To go out on senior night like this and beat a Top-five team in the nation, there is nothing else you could ask for."
The first half was mostly a defensive struggle. Wittenberg connected on just 37 percent of its shots, but Wabash could do no better than 33 percent. And after Witt pounded Wabash on the boards 24-9 in the first half, the Little Giants turned the tables for an 18-15 second half edge.
Wittenberg dominated inside with 21-1 edge on second chance points.
It’s just pure, sheer, joy," Coffey said. "It is just awesome to be here as a senior to be in this position for me and for Kyle (Medeiros), for Caleb (Lyttle). All the seniors played well; we all went out with a bang. It’s a darn good feeling."
The senior’s good feeling carried over to their coach.
"That’s why you stick with guys so they have an opportunity to finish their senior years on a good note and a great memory," Coach Mac Petty said. "They did a good job and the key thing was we made baskets, so it worked out super."
Joseph’s 13 points led Wabash with Lyttle adding 10. Medeiros scored 9 for Wabash. Wittenberg’s twin towers Dane Borchers and Daniel Russ scored 14 and 11, respectively, for the Tigers.