Justin Hallowell

A 14-1 run midway through the first half put the University of Hawaii at Hilo on top by double digits, and the NCAA Div. II Vulcans held off a series of rallies by The College of Wooster to prevail 90-77 late Friday night in men's basketball action at Hilo, Hawaii.

Early on, the teams exchanged the lead four times. After a free throw gave Wooster (5-4) a 12-11 advantage, Hawaii-Hilo (5-2) put together the aforementioned run, keyed by three 3-pointers, including two in a row from John Smith, for a 25-13 cushion.

With about 5:00 left in the half, the Fighting Scots had trimmed the deficit to 32-26, thanks to buckets by Justin Hallowell (Worthington, Ohio / Thomas Worthington) on back-to-back possessions. That was as close as Wooster would get, though, as the Vulcans would have another key stretch, using an 8-3 run to help end the half ahead 48-35.

Hawaii-Hilo carried that momentum over into the second, extending its cushion to 23 points at 62-39. The Scots would claw back, pulling within 10 (68-58) at the eight-minute mark, only to see the Vulcans respond with seven unanswered points to all but put the game away.

Wooster would make one last push, getting the margin to single digits (85-77) with under :30 to go before Hawaii-Hilo settled for a 13-point win.

The difference in the game may have been foul trouble for the Scots. Three of their starters fouled out and two others had four, as the Vulcans scored more than a third of their points at the free throw line where they were 31-of-43 (.721).

Individually, Hallowell paced Wooster with 20 points, including 4-of-8 3-pointers, and seven rebounds. It marked his first 20-point game, while fellow freshman Drew Sawyer (Dayton, Ohio / Kettering Fairmont) also had as season-high in scoring with 11 points in 11 minutes.

Also of note, Marty Bidwell (Middletown, Ohio / Bishop Fenwick) tallied eight points, six assists, and five rebounds, and Ian Franks (Greenwich, Ohio / South Central) added nine points and three steals.

Jay DeMaestri led all players with a double-double of 24 points and 15 rebounds, and Smith ended up with 21 points for Hawaii-Hilo.

It is believed to be the first ever game played by the Scots in Hawaii.

Wooster, scheduled to return to the main land Saturday, next takes to the floor when it hosts the 46th annual "Mose" Hole/Kiwanis Classic between Christmas and New Year's.