Bryan Wickliffe

UNIVERSITY HTS., Ohio – In a game between a pair of top-10 teams (D3hoops.com), No. 2 ranked John Carroll University scored nine unanswered points, breaking a 60-60 tie and the Blue Streaks hung on for a 71-63 win over No. 9 College of Wooster at the DeCarlo Varsity Center Sunday afternoon.

Neither squad had led by more than three points since the 10-minute mark of the second half when the Blue Streaks' full-court defense forced a turnover in the backcourt, followed by a quick lay-up for Tyler Kirsch for a 65-60 cushion with just under 2:00 remaining.

On the ensuing possessions, Wooster (2-3) missed a lay-up and John Carroll (4-0) then worked the clock before Chris Zajac found Matt Crozier open underneath for a lay-in to make it a 67-60 margin.

Another turnover followed for the Fighting Scots, which Kirsch converted into an easy two as well as a near-insurmountable lead of 69-60 with less than a minute to go.

The only lead of the day larger was when the Blue Streaks jumped out to an 18-8 advantage just before the midway point of the opening half. Wooster responded with its best stretch, outscoring John Carroll by a 21-7 count over six-plus minutes for a 29-25 lead, however, the Blue Streaks would go back ahead, 33-31 at the break.

While the second half was closely contested, the Scots only forged ahead once at 48-47 with just under 7:00 on the clock. Then, there were ties of 49, 56, 58, and 60 going into the last 2:20.

The difference in the game was Wooster's 26 turnovers as well as its uncharacteristic 3-of-21 performance (.143) from 3-point range. That marked the Scots' most turnovers since the 2007-08 season opener and their lowest number of 3-pointers made since Jan. 12, 2008.

Individually, Bryan Wickliffe paced Wooster in scoring for the second time this year, tallying 22 points on 8-of-9 field goals as he was often free underneath the basket when the Scots broke John Carroll's press. Wickliffe also gathered seven rebounds, sharing team honors with Justin Hallowell, and also of note, Brandon Johnson and Nathan Balch recorded four assists apiece.

Crozier posted a double-double of 18 points, including an old-fashioned three-point play to break the 60-60 tie, and 10 rebounds, while Corey Shontz registered 11 points, seven assists, and four steals.

Now it is on to North Coast Athletic Conference play for Wooster, as it opens league play Wednesday at Ohio Wesleyan University (1-3, 0-0 NCAC).