Senior Recognition Day is an annual event in the Wittenberg men's basketball program. Rarely, however, has the team had more seniors on the roster than it could fit into the starting line-up on that occasion.

That was the predicament faced by the Wittenberg Tigers, however. Seven seniors — in addition to a senior team manager and a senior cheerleader — were honored in an unusual post-game ceremony after the Tigers had taken care of business, putting the finishing touches on the 2011-12 regular season with a 72-50 victory over Hiram.

The win avenged a 64-51 loss at Hiram in January and gave the Tigers some much-needed momentum heading into the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) Tournament. Wittenberg has earned the No. 1 seed and will carry records of 20-5 overall and 14-2 in the NCAC regular season into a tourney quarterfinal match-up against eighth-place Kenyon at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 21.

The Tigers enter the NCAC Tournament with home court advantage, which is key for a team that is 11-2 in the 2011-12 season at Pam Evans Smith Arena. Wittenberg has reeled off nine straight home wins, capped by an emphatic win over the Terriers, who were outrebounded 48-28 by the Tigers.

That rebounding advantage went along with a six-turnover differential to give the Tigers 14 extra field goal attempts, in addition to 14 more free throw opportunities. Wittenberg shot 40 percent overall, but the Tigers were more efficient in the second half, hitting 52 percent as they pulled away after leading 34-25 at halftime.

Wittenberg showed great balance as 11 of the 16 players who saw action in the game scored at least two points and 14 of those players recorded at least one rebound. Senior Alex Brandt (Lewis Center, Ohio/Olentangy) and sophomore Scott Masin (New Carlisle, Ohio/Bethel) shared scoring honors with 12 points apiece.

Senior Clayton Black (Lancaster, Ohio/Lancaster) added a balanced stats line of six points, five rebounds and four assists, while senior Josh McKee (New Carlisle, Ohio/Tecumseh) added nine points — all on three-pointers — and five rebounds.