Scott Purcell

The College of Wooster, ranked No. 2 in D3hoops.com's top-25 poll, constructed a 19-point lead early in the second half and then held off a Wittenberg University comeback attempt that saw the ninth-ranked Tigers trim it to a one-possession game, as the Fighting Scots ultimately prevailed 69-62 Saturday night at Springfield, Ohio, in the archrivals' first meeting of the 2013-14 season.

The win, plus a loss by DePauw University earlier on Saturday, gives Wooster (14-1, 8-0 NCAC) a two-game cushion atop the North Coast Athletic Conference standings.

The key stretch of the game may have been the final 11:17 of the opening half. With Wittenberg (12-3, 6-2 NCAC) having gained a 13-8 lead, the Scots called a timeout at that point and regrouped, outscoring the Tigers 26-6 for a 34-19 halftime advantage.

Defensively, Wooster helped induce nine turnovers during that critical stretch as well as 1-of-8 field-goal shooting, while the offense featured eight points by Evan Pannell, including a fast-break dunk, and a couple Scott Purcell 3-pointers.

The Scots continued to hold the momentum early in the second half, a mini 6-2 run extending the score to 40-21 at the 17:53 mark. Less than a minute later, it was 43-24.

Then, as is customary for this rivalry, the team that was behind made its move. First, Wittenberg tallied 10 unanswered points, and after a free throw by Purcell briefly interrupted the run, the Tigers accounted for four more to make it a six-point margin (44-38).

Next, the two offenses traded scores for several possessions, as the margin shifted between five-to-eight points, and with 5:15 remaining, Steven Newell dropped in two free throws to pull Wittenberg within 58-55.

On the ensuing Wooster offensive sets, Kenny DeBoer and Doug Thorpe each hit 3-pointers, sandwiched around a Tigers' lay-up. Those 3-balls were pivotal, as Wittenberg never got any closer than four points.

With just under a minute left, the Tigers did have a good look at a 3-pointer from the right wing that would have brought them within one, however, it missed its mark and the Scots made 3-of-4 free throws to clinch the victory – their fourth in a row in the series.

The difference in the game was turnovers. Wittenberg committed 20 to Wooster's 10. The Tigers stayed close with a 36-25 rebounding advantage, and also of note, the Scots excelled at the free throw line, knocking down 84.0 percent (21-for-25).

Wooster's offense was very balanced as usual. Purcell drained 3-of-7 from 3-point range as part of a team-high 14 points, Xavier Brown and Thorpe each had a dozen, Pannell finished with 11, and DeBoer tallied 10.

DeBoer and Thorpe collected five boards apiece, and Brown registered three assists and four steals.

Scott Masin had a game-high 17 points in the loss and Brock Kiesler provided a lift off of the bench with 11.

Next, the Scots host their second of four consecutive Wednesday night affairs, as Allegheny College (3-12, 0-8 NCAC) pays a visit to Timken Gymnasium for a 7:30 p.m. tip-off.