Wooster fans celebrate with Fighting Scot legend James Cooper, who hit a game-winning three-pointer from approximately 25 feet out with 4.1 seconds left during the Scots' 86-83 win over the Tigers on December 10, 2005 - the game in the rivalry prior to the historic first-ever meeting between the top two teams in the D3hoops.com Top 25 Poll.

Welcome back to the Scot Rewind, where WoosterAthletics.com is taking a look back at a big win, a monster individual performance, or a significant milestone corresponding with each week of the 2020-2021 academic year. This week's rewind takes a look at the first one-two matchup in the then-seven-year existence of D3hoops.com's national poll, meaning it's The College of Wooster's impressive 86-77 victory over archnemesis Wittenberg University from February 4, 2006. Here's the recap from that game.

Wooster drained 9-of-12 three-pointers in the first half, capped by a long three-pointer by James Cooper right before the buzzer, to take a 49-40 lead and then withstood several rallies by Wittenberg in the second before securing an 86-77 victory in front of a sold-out crowd of 3,100 at Wittenberg's HPER Center. The game was the first between the No. 1 (Wittenberg) and No. 2 ranked teams (Wooster) in the D3hoops.com national poll's seven-year existence.

With the win, Wooster takes a big step in securing its second North Coast Athletic Conference championship in a row and third in the last four seasons, as the Fighting Scots improved to 20-1 overall and 12-0 in league play, two games ahead of second-place Wittenberg (19-2, 10-2 NCAC).

The Scots were not only hot from behind the arc in the opening half, but from all over the court, as they made 16-of-24 field goals overall (.667) and 8-of-9 free throws (.889). During one stretch, Wooster connected on six-straight shots from the floor and then six consecutive attempts from the charity stripe. The Tigers, though, withstood that fury, thanks to four Wooster turnovers, and cut the lead to 40-37.

Over the final 3:42, the Scots went on a 9-3 run, capped by Cooper's three-pointer, which was eerily similar to his game-winner in the teams' first meeting of the year, an 86-83 Wooster win.

The Scots stayed hot early in the second, making four of their first five, including 3-of-3 three-pointer, which gave them an 80.0 three-point percentage at the time (12-of-15) and a 60-47 advantage.

Wooster finally cooled off and Wittenberg took advantage, scoring eight-straight to pull within five.

With the exception of two possessions, it remained a single-digit margin the rest of the way.
The closest the Tigers would get was 74-70 with just under four minutes to play, but Wooster maintained its focus, answering with buckets by Tim Vandervaart and Cooper while holding Wittenberg to missed field goal attempts on the other end, both of which were rebounded immediately, thus not giving the Tigers a shot at second-chance points.

Daniel Russ made 1-of-2 free throws to cut the lead to 78-71 at the 2:05 mark, but after a missed three-pointer on the Tigers' next offensive possession, they were forced to foul. Wooster made all eight of its free throws during the final 1:21 to seal the victory.

Cooper led five Scot players in double figures with 24 points, including the team's first eight of the game. He also had five assists.

Tom Port, playing for the first time since January 18 due to an injury, scored 13 points, while Vandervaart contributed an even dozen. Andy Van Horn chipped in 11 key points, all coming during the opening half, and Brandon Johnson matched him, with six points coming at the charity stripe down the stretch.

Russ and fellow big man Dane Borchers put up 22 points apiece for Wittenberg. Borchers produced 11 rebounds for a double-double, while Kenny Brady put in 13 points.

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