WOOSTER, Ohio – College of Wooster sophomore Jaiden Cox-Holloway blocked Ronald Johnson's go-ahead layup in the final three seconds to secure an 87-86 win over DePauw University on a day that celebrated Steve Moore at Timken Gymnasium.
Minutes before Steve Moore Court at Timken Gymnasium was formally dedicated, Wooster (12-8, 8-3 North Coast Athletic Conference) was hard at work keeping DePauw (11-9, 6-5 NCAC) from spoiling the day. DePauw threatened to put a damper on the celebration with a 5-0 run over the final 1:42. Cox-Holloway denied DePauw a chance at a follow-up buzzer-beating try by securing the rebound following the block.
Wooster junior Jamir Billings delivered a performance fitting of the occasion, especially with Moore and many of the program's all-time greats witnessing it firsthand. Wooster's star guard passed out nine assists and logged five steals. He moved into third all-time in program history with 412 assists and is now tied for second all-time with 210 steals. Billings and Wooster great Antwyan Reynolds are the only two players currently in the top-10 three times in program history in season steals, and Billings now has three 100-assist seasons.
Wooster had to overcome a lights-out day by DePauw, which shot 66.7 percent (32-of-48) for the game and a blistering 76.5 percent (13-of-17) from three-point range. The Scots were similarly efficient offensively, shooting 58.9 percent (33-of-56) and 43.3 percent (13-of-30) from range. One area where Wooster capitalized was turnovers, as the Scots had just nine, the lowest output of the season. Wooster's miscues were eight fewer than DePauw's, and that led to a 21-12 advantage in points off turnovers.
Junior Ashton Price handed Wooster the lead for good with 11:25 remaining. He hit a three-pointer following a Cox-Holloway steal, and that triple put Wooster up 65-63. The bucket started Wooster's 12-4 run, during which the Scots opened up a 74-67 lead. Unselfish team basketball – a staple of Wooster basketball – was on full display during the run with assists from three different players, including senior JJ Cline, who found an open Price for a second-chance three-pointer at the end.
DePauw was within two at two junctures prior to the game closing run, and Wooster delivered an answer both times. Cox-Holloway cleaned up a missed shot at the 6:46 mark to put Wooster up 76-72. Later, senior Nick Everett sank both free throws on a one-and-one situation with 5:03 to go that pushed the Scots' lead to 82-78.
Cox-Holloway's layup at the first half's 6:27 mark tied the contest at 29, and pulled Wooster back into the game from a six-point deficit. However, the deficit was back to six at halftime after Kyle Lillwitz's final-seconds three-pointer.
Price scored 20 points to lead Wooster on 8-of-12 shooting. Cox-Holloway was just as efficient, going for 17 points on 7-of-10 shooting. Everett did not miss a shot en route to 16 points. Price backed Billings' nine assists up with seven.
Sam Jacobs scored a game-high 27 points to lead DePauw. Johnson supported Jacobs' big game with 16 points and five assists.
Rebounds were at a premium, with the teams combining for just 41.
Wooster, now in a three-way tie for first in the NCAC with Denison University (12-8, 8-3 NCAC) and Wabash College (12-8, 8-3 NCAC), is idle until a 4 p.m. home game against Kenyon College (5-14, 3-7 NCAC) on Saturday, Feb. 3.