Evan Pannell

WOOSTER, Ohio – For the first time since Feb. 1, 1997, The College of Wooster lost a game to North Coast Athletic Conference foe Denison University, as the Big Red out-executed the Fighting Scots down the stretch for a 76-72 decision Saturday night at Timken Gymnasium.

After Evan Pannell's lay-up with just under four minutes to play evened the score at 62, marking the game's 11th tie, Denison (13-8, 7-7 NCAC) accounted for the next seven points – a David Meurer 3-pointer and mid-range jumpers from Bret Woolard and Briggs King.

Wooster (16-5, 10-4 NCAC) did not get back on the scoreboard until the 1:36 mark when Pannell ended a run of five consecutive misses at the free throw line, two of which were on the front end of one-and-one opportunities.

Woolard split a pair of free throws on the next possession, then Pannell got to the line again and made both to bring the Scots within 70-65 with :59 remaining.

Wooster tried to keep chipping away, with a Pannell 3-pointer trimming it to a four-point margin (72-68) with :41 left, Dan Fanelly hitting two free throws to again get within four (74-70) at the 20.1 mark, and Pannell scoring an uncontested lay-up with 7.0 seconds on the clock to make it a one-possession game (75-72).

But it was not enough as the Big Red sunk enough free throws during the final minute (6-for-8) and successfully in-bounded the ball to pull off their first victory over the Scots in 30 meetings.

Wooster constructed an early 16-7 lead, only to see Denison respond with four-straight 3-pointers – two by Briggs – as the visitors went ahead by 19-18.

They exchanged the lead several times throughout the rest of the first half, with the Big Red ultimately taking a 37-35 edge into the halftime break.

The Scots opened the second with a 12-2 run (47-39) and were ahead by eight again at 52-44. Then, Denison rallied, putting together a 10-2 stretch (54-54) and setting the stage for an exciting last 10 minutes.

Statistically, 3-point shooting may have been the biggest difference, with the Big Red nailing 9-for-23 (.391), compared to Wooster's cold night from the arc of 3-for-17 (.176). The Scots also did allow Denison to shoot 50 percent from the field (26-for-52), the fourth time this season, and third in the last six games, the opposition has made more than half its shots.

Pannell scored 25 points, despite an off-night from 3-point range (1-for-6), Fanelly registered a double-double of 19 points and 13 rebounds, and Brown tallied 14 points, as that trio accounted for over 80 percent of the team's scoring.

King spurred the Big Red to the win with a career-high 26 points, plus 10 rebounds and four assists.

Wooster will play host to Hiram College (9-12, 3-11 NCAC) on Wednesday night, with tip-off slated for 8 p.m.