Justin Warnes

WOOSTER, Ohio – After Hiram College took its second lead of the game early in the second half, The College of Wooster, ranked No. 4 in the initial D3hoops.com top-25 poll of the regular season, outscored its visitors 26-7 the next 10 minutes en route to a 74-60 win in a North Coast Athletic Conference opener Wednesday night at Timken Gymnasium.

Wooster (5-0, 1-0 NCAC) never trailed during a closely-contested first half, but gave up its advantage on the scoreboard early in the second. First, Hiram (3-3, 0-1 NCAC) went up 39-38 and then 41-40, but the Fighting Scots answered each time, the second on a Bryan Wickliffe lay-up, assisted by Justin Hallowell from the right corner, that would keep them out in front the rest of the way.

The score remained close for the next three minutes. At the 12-minute mark, though, Wooster began to stretch out its lead, which ballooned from 48-46 to 66-48, keyed by Ian Franks and Justin Warnes. Franks accounted for nine points and Warnes five of the 18-2 game-clinching run, as the Terriers never got any closer than 12 (66-54).

The Scots' second-half defense was the difference. They helped limit Hiram to just 8-of-32 field goals (.250), lowering the shooting percentage for the game to .309 (21-for-68). Wooster finished right around 50 percent (.510; 26-for-51) and owned a plus-six edge in the rebounding department (42-36).

Franks was the game's leading scorer with 25 points, while Warnes chipped in a career-high 12. The latter also contributed two steals and the Scots' lone blocked shot of the contest.

Also for Wooster, freshman Ryan Snyder had 10 points while seeing the most extensive action of his young career and Wickliffe tossed in 10 as well to go with a team-best seven boards. Wickliffe added four assists without a turnover, as did Hallowell.

Hiram's Babajide Eniola posted 19 points, seven rebounds, and three steals during the setback.

Next for the Scots, Denison University (4-2, 1-0 NCAC) visits Timken Gymnasium Saturday night.