Lattner scores 27 as Tigers win in OT: now stands 18th on career scoring list

Sunday, December 18, 2016
Luke Lattner
DePauw photo

Luke Lattner scored a game-high 27 and hit a 3-pointer with 5.5 seconds remaining in regulation to lift DePauw to a 96-90 victory against Hiram in overtime on Sunday.

Lattner sunk the 3-pointer after taking a couple dribbles and receiving the ball following an inbound pass from near the half court line. Hiram got a 3-pointer off with .7 seconds remaining but could not end the game in regulation.

In overtime, Hiram took the initial lead, but an Ethan Jarrett layup off a pass from Jack VandeMerkt gave the game its 12th tie. Jarrett with a career-high 16 points in 18 minutes off the bench. VandeMerkt’s night was cut short after fouling out with 1:42 left in overtime, but he still finished with a double-double at 11 points and 13 rebounds.

With 3:03 left in overtime, Lattner connected on a jumper to give DePauw an 86-85 lead. He put DePauw ahead again at 2:37 with a layup and again at 2:02 at 90-88 on another layup and the game’s final field goal.

It turned to a free throw battle from there. Hiram’s Kelvin Jones, who finished with a team-high 25 points, made it 90-90 with 1:42 remaining. Then DePauw got two big free throws each from John Starkey and Andrew Kus before Lattner sunk the final two free throws to conclude the game.

Hiram went 0-for-3 in the final 1:42, all of which were 3-pointers.

Hiram entered first in the North Coast Athletic Conference in field goal and free throw percentage.

The Terriers held true to their field goal percentage, shooting 51 percent (30-of-59) but they struggled at the free throw line at 66 percent (21-of-32).

DePauw, on the other hand, shot 89 percent from the free throw line (25-of-28) and went 16-of-16 from the line after the first half. The Tigers shot 43 percent from the floor (31-of-73) and 45 percent from 3-point range (9-of-20).

DePauw also outrebounded the Terriers 41-30 and outscored them in the paint 36-32.

The Tigers also scored 22 points off turnovers and outscored their bench 38-31.

Other notables for the Tigers included James Clarke, who scored 11 points. Andrew Kus finished with 10 points and a career-high six rebounds.

Nate Jahn had a career-high nine assists.

Lattner now sits 18th in school history with 1,149 points, moving past Dale Anderson (1959-62) and Morgan Everson (1963-66).

The win moves DePauw to 4-5 overall and 2-2 in the NCAC. Hiram falls to 3-6 and 2-2. The Tigers currently hold a 6-3 lead in the all-time series.

DePauw is off until Dec. 29 for when they play Wentworth in the Tampa Bay Shootout.

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