SPRINGFIELD, Ohio—The Otterbein University men's basketball team dropped a 97-77 nonconference decision at Wittenberg University Wednesday evening in Springfield.

Otterbein, getting balanced scoring, led by as many as nine points in the first half. Junior guard Andy Yazrombek scored on a layup to give the Cardinals their largest lead of the game, up 36-27 with 3:04 to play before intermission. The Tigers closed out the period with a 13-6 run to pull within two, trailing 42-40 at the break. Six Cardinals scored at least five points each in the half.

The Tigers carried their momentum over into the second half, putting together a 17-5 run before Otterbein junior guard Matt McCollister stemmed the tide by hitting his third-straight three-pointer to cut the Wittenberg lead to seven, 57-50, with 13:10 to play.

Wittenberg, however, scored 12 of the next 17 points to push its lead back into double digits, 69-55, with 9:37 remaining.

With the loss, Otterbein dropped to 1-4 overall while Wittenberg improved to 4-1.

Five Cardinals, led by freshman point guard Jake Phillis, scored in double digits. Phillis tallied 15 points and hit all six of his free-throw attempts. Sophomore guard Jake Bischoff and freshman forward Matt Rhodes chipped in 13 each. McCollister and Yazrombek rounded out the scoring with 11 points each.

Senior guards Zach Leahy, 18, and Scott Masin, 17, led Wittenberg.

The Cardinals hit 28 of 59 shots from the field for 47.5 percent, including 9 of 20 from behind the arc. Otterbein was 12 of 17 from the free-throw line. Wittenberg out-rebounded Otterbein, 38-33, and shot 54.4 percent from the field, hitting 37 of 68 attempts.

The Cardinals return to action Dec. 4, hosting Marietta College to open Ohio Athletic Conference play. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. in the Rike Center.