Jeremy Ludemann
Senior Sports Writer
The 107th men’s basketball matchup between The College of Wooster Fighting Scots and the Wittenberg University Tigers lived up to the hype as one of NCAA Division III’s most anticipated late-season clashes. With a jubilant crowd of 3,032 faithful Fighting Scots in the Timken Gymnasium stands watching the battle between the Scots and Tigers, Wooster utilized its perimeter prowess in the first half and survived a late-game offensive drought to top archrival Wittenberg by the final score of 60-55. As of late, the series has been like the Romans dominating the Carthaginians in the Punic Wars, as the Scots have won five in a row despite fierce challenges from their Southwestern Ohio staunch rivals.
The first half of the contest was a roller coaster for both the Black and Old Gold and the Red and White, as there were seven ties and 10 lead changes, with Wooster clinging to a 30-27 halftime advantage. In the first half, Wittenberg was paced by Scott Masin’s 12 points and five rebounds, as the Scots had no real answer for the 6’5” senior post player from New Carlisle, Ohio. While Masin was an artist in the paint, senior guard Justin McDowell was 2-3 from three point range and was able to hold Doug Thorpe ’14 to only one point in the first half. With Thorpe struggling from the field, it was Scott Purcell ’14’s time to shine. The guard from Oxford, Ohio was a star pupil from the perimeter in the first half, shooting a perfect 3-3 from beyond the arc. Xavier Brown ’15 effectively found holes in the Wittenberg zone and scored 12 points in the first 20 minutes for the Scots, and made a timely tip-in at the end of the first half to give Wooster their three point advantage at recess.
After two Evan Pannell ’15 free throws at the 12 minute mark of the second half, the Scots’ lead swelled to 45-35, and would later grow to a 12 point advantage at 52-40 after Thorpe buried a three-pointer with eight minutes left in the game. However, the Scots would only score eight more points the rest of the way, with six of them coming at the free throw line.
Wittenberg began their rally by driving inside on the Scots on several occasions, and playing aggressive defense despite the Tigers’ big men–— Masin and behemoth freshman Brock Keisler — both having four fouls. After Wittenberg’s Shane Edwards successfully dialed long distance with a trifecta that cut the Wooster lead to 54-45 with seven minutes to go, the Tigers and the Scots often scored from the line. With the Red and White’s success with their dribble penetration and improved second half passing, the Tigers were able to draw to as little as four points with 58 seconds to go with a Masin layup, Purcell was fouled and added two free throws, making the score 58-52 with 58 seconds remaining. The business economics major’s key increase to the Black and Old Gold’s GDP from the line forced Wittenberg to get a quick two, as Edwards sprinted through the lane and scored a layup, thus cutting the score to 58-54.
A missed free throw by Kenny DeBoer ’14 opened the door for Masin, who was fouled inside and went to the line to shoot for two. After Masin made his first, he missed the second free throw, but Wittenberg’s McDowell garnered the offensive board and distributed it to Tiger guard Zack Leahy, who misfired on his trifecta attempt. DeBoer obtained the rebound and hit his two free throws to finally shut the door on the Tigers and give Wooster at least a share of its ninth NCAC championship in the last 10 years. With the triumph over Witt, The Scots enjoyed a two-game lead over Ohio Wesleyan University and a three-game lead over Wittenberg with just two games to play. After press time, the Scots had the chance to win the conference outright for the regular season at Allegheny College, and will host cellar-dweller Oberlin College for senior day tomorrow at 7:30 p.m. inside the friendly confines of Timken Gymnasium.