Another Late Surge in First Half the Difference, as Scots Handle the ‘Berg 73-61

WOOSTER, Ohio – For the second-straight night, a strong finish to the first half paved the way for a double-digit College of Wooster victory, as the Fighting Scots used an 11-3 stretch to build a 39-27 halftime lead and went on to a 73-61 decision over Heidelberg University Friday to go undefeated during the 49th annual "Mose" Hole/Kiwanis Classic.

Also winning both of its games of the two-day event was fellow North Coast Athletic Conference school Hiram College, which outran Thiel College 89-75 earlier Friday.

Holding a 28-24 lead with a little more than four minutes to go before the break, Wooster (9-2) began the key run when Jalen Goodwin earned a trip to the free throw line and sunk both attempts. After a series of turnovers, a Doug Thorpe steal led to a transition lay-up for Jake Mays, and shortly thereafter, Goodwin got to the charity stripe again, making two more for the Scots' first double-digit cushion at 34-24.

Heidelberg (3-8) answered on the next possession, only to see Wooster score five of the next six points on a couple of Justin Hallowell free throws, a Thorpe lay-up, assisted by Hallowell, and another free throw from Goodwin for the 12-point advantage.

To start the second half, the 'Berg's Dane Givner scored five quick points to pull within 39-32 and they would bring the deficit down to seven two other times, including at 64-57 with just four minutes left. Then, Josh Claytor went to work in the post with a lay-up, followed by a defensive stop and two free throw makes for Justin Warnes to make it a 68-57 cushion at the 3:10 mark.

Neither team scored again until less than two minutes remained, and the margin never dipped below 10 again.

The difference in the game was the Scots' ability to work its way to the line. Wooster finished 23-of-33 on free throws (.697), paced by Goodwin's 7-of-9 effort, compared to Heidelberg, which went 9-of-16 overall (.563). The Scots also shot better overall, hitting 46.0 percent from the floor (23-of-50), compared to the 'Berg's .375 field-goal rate (24-of-64), and owned a slight 41-38 rebounding advantage.

Claytor paced Wooster in the scoring column with 18 points, including 8-of-11 field goals, while Hallowell chipped in with 17, which was highlighted by 3-of-5 3-pointers. He also added seven rebounds and a couple of steals en route to tournament MVP honors for the senior forward.

Goodwin, in his first career start, tallied 11 points and two steals during a team-high 33 minutes, and also of note, Kenny DeBoer scored eight points in just 10 minutes and Warnes collected seven boards.

Darion Capers had 19 points for Heidelberg.

Hiram (8-3) was clicking on all cylinders for most of the first half offensively in building a 48-33 bulge at the break and hung on to a double-digit advantage throughout the second en route to the 14-point win. For the Terriers, Alan Sheppard and Jamaal Watkins both had 20-point games with Sheppard coming in at 25 and Watkins 21, while Chace McKinney recorded 17 in the losing effort.

In addition to Hallowell, all-tournament team recognition went to Watkins (defensive MVP), Thorpe, Capers, Sheppard, Aaron Stefanov of Hiram, and Anthony Harvey of Thiel.

The Scots return to action on Jan. 4 when they host Geneva College (3-8) in their final non-league tilt of the season.