Scots Drop Heartbreaker in Mose Hole Finale

WOOSTER, Ohio – First-year Jamir Billings' game-winning three-point try hit off the front of the rim, and Muskingum University hung on to knock off The College of Wooster men's basketball team 68-66 in the finale of the 58th E.M. "Mose" Hole/Wooster Kiwanis Classic on New Year's Eve at Timken Gymnasium.

Wooster (8-3) trailed 66-59 with 2:26 remaining in Friday's contest, then Billings went on a 5-0 run. The Fighting Scots' rookie point guard knocked down a step-back three-pointer with 1:29 remaining that pulled Wooster within 66-64. Next, DJ Donnell's second-chance bucket fell, upping Muskingum's (3-8) lead back to four before senior Najee Hardaway made it a two-point game at the line. Mose Hole/Kiwanis Classic MVP Alex Masinelli's jumper was off the mark in the final 15 seconds, Billings grabbed the rebound, then he was stuffed at the rim at the other end by the Fighting Muskies' Noah Tomlinson. That set up an inbounds play for the Scots with just over five seconds remaining.

Wooster was playing catchup for most of the game. Muskingum twice led by 11 in the second half, but the Scots' bigs – junior Turner Kurt and sophomore Nick Everett – kept Wooster in the mix with a combined 13 points, six boards, and nine fouls drawn after halftime. One of those fouls drawn came with 10:33 remaining. Everett was fouled during his second-chance lay-in, and his free throw capped Wooster's 12-0 run, which saw the Scots tie the game at 41. Muskingum answered right back with a 6-0 stretch and never trailed again.

The big difference Friday was Muskingum's 15-0 first-half run. Carson Carter scored at the rim, with the bucket putting the Muskies up 25-15. Billings' triple sent Wooster into the locker room at halftime with a six-point deficit.

Billings' 17 points led four Scots in double figures. Everett and Hardaway scored a dozen apiece, and senior Hamilton Johnson continued to shine. Johnson, who saw his first extended action during Thursday's 88-78 overtime win against University of Lynchburg, earned a starting assignment on Friday and responded with 11 points and eight rebounds en route to earning all-tournament team honors.

Wooster won the rebounding battle 39-37, but the Scots did have 17 turnovers to the Muskies' 13.

Wooster, which was playing on New Year's Eve for the first time since 1954, shot 37.9 percent (22-of-58) from the floor, was 9-of-25 on three-pointers, and went 13-of-17 at the charity stripe.

Tomlinson scored 17 points and matched Everett for the game-high in rebounds with nine. Masinelli scored 13 points, grabbed seven boards, and dished out six assists.

Muskingum shot 40.9 percent (27-of-66), went 7-of-21 on three-pointers, and didn't miss at the line on seven tries.

Lynchburg's Tharon Suggs was named the Most Outstanding Defensive Player after six steals over the Hornets' two games this week. Everett, Kurt, Lynchburg's T.C. Thacker and Muskingum's Alex Coffey joined Johnson on the all-tournament team.

Next, Wooster's (4-0 North Coast Athletic Conference) at Wabash College (9-3, 4-1 NCAC) on Tuesday, January 4. Tipoff is set for 3 p.m. Please make note of the new date, as the game was originally slated for Monday, January 3.