By Andrew Bell

Staff Writer

This past Saturday, Feb. 15, the College of Wooster defeated Ohio Wesleyan (OWU) in a North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) senior night matchup, 82-58. The Scots sent off four key members of their squad: JJ Cline ’25, Ashton Price ’25, Nick Everett ’25 and Jamir Billings ’25, playing their last home game inside Timken Gymnasium. Price, Everett and Billings are all members of the illustrious 1,000-point club. Prior to the game’s start, Wooster and OWU were ranked 3rd and 4thin the NCAC. The win gave Wooster sole possession of 3rd in the NCAC rankings, avenging an earlier loss against the Battling Bishops.

Everett tipped the ball to Billings to give the Scots the first possession and points of the contest. Billings added 6 more to Everett’s initial basket, including a bucket off an assist from Cline. Price scored Wooster’s first 3-pointer, assisted by EJ Kapihe ’26. The first media break of the night saw Wooster leading OWU, 9-6.

Isaiah Johnson ’25 followed with his first 2 of the game, scoring from inside the paint. He scored again with a long 2-pointer to break a 13-13 tie. Despite Wooster’s offensive effort, OWU gained its first lead with two long 3-pointers. Johnson closed the gap to a single bucket by laying in a missed shot, but OWU extended it to 4. The under-8 timeout saw Wooster trailing, 21-17.

OWU continued to extend their lead, but Kapihe answered with a pair of buckets from inside the key. The Fighting Scots locked in for an intense defensive possession, forcing a major shot clock violation. Billings swished a 3, followed by a jumper from Jaiden Cox-Holloway ’26. Cox-Holloway hit 2 free throws before Billings nailed a deep 3. The Scots went on a 19-4 run and trotted into the locker room leading 36-27 at the half.

OWU started the second half with a deep 3-pointer, and Price answered with one of his own. Everett and Kapihe combined for 4 points from the paint, and Price and Billings added 3 transition layups. Wooster went on a 14-6 run, pushing their lead to 50-33.

Cox-Holloway pushed OWU defensively and hit a deep 3, with an assist from Price. Kapihe added another bucket before Cox-Holloway contributed 5 more with another 3 and a transition layup. Billings added a transition bucket, and Cox-Holloway followed with a heat-check 3. The 12-minute media break saw Wooster up 65-42.

After a defensive stalemate, Wooster broke their scoring drought with an Everett free throw and a Johnson reverse layup. Breckman Oakley ’28 registered his first points of the game after scoring off a turnover. Wooster scored 5 more in the next period, leading 70-48.

At the under-8 timeout, head coach Doug Cline called a timeout to put in his seniors one last time before substituting them out one by one. Cox-Holloway hit one last 3-pointer before being subbed out at the media break.

The senior night festivities continued as Coach Cline cleared the bench, allowing all of his subs to finish the game. Damon Curry ’28 highlighted the final minutes by backing down a defender and converting a power lay-in. The bench players secured Wooster’s victory, sealing the final score at 82-58.

The Scot’s win was especially meaningful to the seniors, particularly JJ Cline, who has been part of Wooster basketball his whole life. Reflecting on the night, he said, “This is my second home, and it even means more to come out here and play … with my dad and my family here.”

“As a college basketball coach, you miss so much. So, to have an opportunity to be with him every day throughout the five years is just awesome,” Coach Cline added. Despite the celebration, the seniors remained focused on their upcoming matchups against Denison and DePauw. Billings said, “[Wooster will win if we] do not turn the ball over and make sure we take good shots.” 

The Fighting Scots travel to Denison and DePauw to conclude the regular season. A Wooster win in both games and a Wabash loss or two Wabash losses and a Wooster win would seed Wooster at No. 2 in the NCAC tournament. This would also grant them a bye to the semifinals hosted at Denison on Feb. 28. Otherwise, the Scots will return home on Feb. 25 to begin quarter final play.