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WESTERVILLE, Ohio – The Otterbein men's basketball team suffered an 80-71 loss to Wittenberg on Sunday's final day of the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC)/North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) Challenge.

The Cardinals, now 0-5 overall, got off to a solid start from the field shooting 48 percent in the first half, as freshmen Eddie Anders and Gabe Watson leading the scoring attack with a combined 15 points.

Wittenberg jumped out to an early 8-2 advantage which quickly turned into a 15-6 lead with just over 13 minutes left on the clock. Otterbein's offense came alive over the next two minutes and change, moving its deficit to just one point following eight quick points between Anders and Watson.

The Tigers upped their lead to seven points a few possessions later, leading by as many as nine down the stretch of the final eight minutes, before a series of jump shots by the Cards pulled them back within two possessions.

Freshman Hunter Dennison promptly brought Otterbein within one points with just under a minute to go until halftime, knocking down a shot from distance off a dish from Watson.

Wittenberg ended the half with a three-point opportunity at the foul line to which James Johnson converted all of them, resulting in a 39-35 lead. Otterbein tallied five three-pointers in the initial frame, while also limiting its turnover total with just six.

Otterbein carried its solid shooting into the second half and trimmed its deficit back within two points of Wittenberg less than two minutes in following a pair of free throws from freshman Justin Carter.

The Cardinals continued to hang within a few possessions of the Tigers, but never managed to come any closer than four points over the final 15 minutes of play. Playing a major role in that decision was Wittenberg holding a distinct 52-32 advantage in points in the paint.

Solid free-throw shooting and timely baskets by Wittenberg proved to be the decisive factor in its triumph, as the Tigers also concluded the contest shooting 56 percent from the field.

Watson finished with a team-high 15 points and a game-best five assists, while Anders and sophomore Nick Koontz combined for 24 points on 9-of-14 shooting. Junior Connor Clark rounded out the top performers for the Cards with six points and a game-high eight boards.

Otterbein shot 47 percent from the field, including a 7-of-17 mark from beyond the arc, a game in which the Cardinals never led and trailed by as few as five points in the closing minute.

The Cards will open OAC play against nationally-ranked Marietta this coming Wednesday night inside the Rike Center. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m.