Ninth-ranked Wittenberg shot 50 percent from the field (28 of 56) and 50 percent (12 of 24) from 3-point range.
Jake Bertemes scored 20 points. James Johnson had 15. Connor Seipel had 14 points and 11 rebounds. Rashaad Ali-Shakir scored 14 off the bench.
Wittenberg (27-2) will host Susquehanna University (21-7) in the second round at 6 p.m. Saturday. Susquehanna, the Landmark Conference champions, overcame an 11-point deficit in the second half to beat Benedictine University 64-59 in the first game at Wittenberg Friday.
Your @WittenbergHoops Tigers take down La Roche, 83-66 from Pam Evans Smith Arena, advancing to the Round of 32 in the @NCAADIII Men's Basketball Tournament #TigerUp pic.twitter.com/s7Lxoq0gch
— Wittenberg Athletics (@WittAthletics) March 7, 2020
Susquehanna reached the Sweet 16 in its last NCAA tournament appearance in 2017. Wittenberg has lost in the second round the last two years and last won a second-round game in 2012.
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Wittenberg led La Roche for the last 27 minutes. La Roche trailed 43-35 at halftime and cut the deficit to 43-40 early in the second half. Wittenberg pushed the lead to double digits midway through the half and was not seriously challenged again.
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