Kenny DeBoer

WOOSTER, Ohio – Kenny DeBoer scored a career-high 22 points, including a clutch 3-pointer that gave The College of Wooster a 74-67 lead with about :40 remaining as the top-seeded Fighting Scots went on to a 78-67 triumph over Ohio Wesleyan University, the No. 4 seed, during Friday's second North Coast Athletic Conference Tournament semifinal game at Timken Gymnasium.

In the first NCAC semi, Wittenberg University's Alex Fultz converted a long two-point jump shot off an in-bounds pass for a 59-58 advantage with just under two minutes left, then its defense kept DePauw University off the scoreboard back-to-back possessions and a series of free throws eventually gave the third-seeded Tigers a 63-61 victory.

So, archrivals Wittenberg (21-6) and Wooster (24-3) will meet in the finals of the NCAC Tournament for the 12th time, first since 2011, on Saturday at 7 p.m.

The Scots led for the entire second half against Ohio Wesleyan (20-7), however, the Battling Bishops pulled within one (63-62) when Nick Felhaber finished an old-fashioned three-point play at the 5:22 mark.

On the ensuing possession, Wooster's Doug Thorpe received a pass from DeBoer and knocked down an open 3-point look at the top of the key, pushing the score to 66-62.

A defensive stop and Dan Fanelly transition lay-up followed for a 68-62 Scot lead, but Ohio Wesleyan accounted for the next four points, two Reuel Rogers free throws and a Felhaber jumper, to narrow it to a one-possession game again.

Thorpe again came up with a big 3-pointer, this time with a Bishop defender in his face at the left wing, for a 71-66 advantage with 2:06 remaining.

Rogers worked his way to the free throw line again, splitting the pair (71-67), and after a miss on the other end, Ohio Wesleyan had an opportunity to pull within one or two again. After calling timeout at the 1:20 mark, Jalen Goodwin got his hand on a Bishop pass and DeBoer followed the steal with his second 3-pointer of the game, assisted by Scott Purcell, that just about sealed the outcome.

At one juncture in the first half, Ohio Wesleyan had built a 30-24 lead. Wooster closed the stanza strong, though, stringing together a 15-5 run, including 3-pointers by Thorpe and Evan Pannell in the last minute for a 39-35 halftime edge.

The Scots extended their margin to 10 for the first and only time at 52-42, and it was 59-50 when Ohio Wesleyan ran off seven points in a row to bring the margin within two. Wooster held on to a one- or two-possession lead until DeBoer's 3-ball made it a seven-point cushion.

The Scots won the game with a slightly better shooting performance from the field (43.3 percent to the Bishops' 38.3 percent) and better rebounding, as they enjoyed a 44-31 lead on the glass.

In addition to DeBoer's scoring, he controlled 11 rebounds, equaling a career best in that category and marking his third career double-double. Also with a double-double was Fanelly, who had 10 points plus a career-high 13 rebounds.

Three other Wooster players reached double figures in Xavier Brown, Thorpe, and Pannell with 15, 13, and 10 points, respectively.

The Scots overcame a career-high 19 points from Felhaber, as well as 20 from Rogers. Dre White also stood out with 13 points, seven rebounds, and five assists.