Mitch Balser

Spencer Williams

A 14-2 run during the first half propelled No. 20 ranked College of Wooster to a seven-point advantage and the Fighting Scots never relinquished that lead, staying ahead by at least seven throughout the second half en route to a 79-59 win over a traditionally strong program in Cabrini College on Tuesday night at Radnor, Pa.

Wooster (2-1), which met Cabrini (2-3) in both the 2011 and 2013 NCAA Div. III Championships, splitting a pair of third-round match-ups, was behind 18-13 around the midway point of the opening half Tuesday. Then, the Scots struck for the key run, which included a rare four-point play by Dan Fanelly as well as Alex LaLonde and Simon Texidor 3-pointers.

After the Cavaliers pulled back within a possession at 29-26, Wooster finished the half strong with six unanswered points, including a pair of layups from Spencer Williams, to take a nine-point cushion (35-26) into the break.

The Scots maintained a 9-to-14-point advantage throughout the majority of the second half before staving off a mini Cabrini run and finishing strong. Behind seven-straight points, the Cavaliers closed to within seven 58-51 at the 6:07 mark, and it was 62-54 a couple minutes later.

Mitch Balser came through by scoring on three of Wooster's next four possessions, as the freshman point guard hit an NBA-range 3-pointer, two free throws, and a jumper, the latter giving the Scots a 71-56 lead – their biggest of the game to that point.

Wooster proceeded to seal the outcome by a 20-point margin.

Statistically, the Scots shot just a shade under 50 percent from the field (.484; 30-for-62) and made 10-of-23 3-pointers (.435), while limiting Cabrini to 30 percent overall (18-for-60). Both teams struggled a little bit at the foul line and they finished even in rebounding with 47 apiece.

Williams paced four Wooster players in double digits with 18 points, plus added six rebounds and three assists, while Balser had a near-perfect shooting night with 14 points coming on 5-of-5 field goals, including two 3-pointers, and 2-of-3 free throws.

Fanelly and LaLonde chipped in 13 and 11 points, respectively, despite being limited to a combined 24 minutes due to foul trouble.

For the Cavaliers, Deryl Bagwell scored a game-high 22 points, which included 4-of-9 from 3-point range.

Following Thanksgiving break, Wooster will open North Coast Athletic Conference play with none other than a trip to 13th-ranked and undefeated Ohio Wesleyan University (5-0) on Wednesday, Dec. 2. The Scots were picked to finish second to the Battling Bishops in the preseason coaches' poll.