Late Defense Secures Wooster's 66-61 Win Over Wabash

WOOSTER, Ohio – An 11-0 run by The College of Wooster men's basketball team provided the momentum, then the Fighting Scots closed out Wabash College with highlight-reel defense in Saturday's 66-61 win at Timken Gymnasium.

Wooster (17-5, 9-4 North Coast Athletic Conference) senior Jamir Billings knocked the ball away from Randy Kelley in the final 37 seconds. Following the steal, the Scots' guard had an uncontested fastbreak layup that made it 65-59. Next, Wabash's (13-8, 9-3 NCAC) Josh Whack's driving layup was denied at the rim by first-year Breckman Oakley, who logged his third block of the afternoon on the play. Wabash could not shake Wooster's blanketing defense on the next drive, as senior Ashton Price got a piece of a wild Rich Brooks 3-point try.

Junior Isaiah Johnson emerged as Saturday's spark plug, providing the offense Wooster needed in the first half. He scored eight points off the bench and gave the Scots the lead for the first time on a fastbreak layup with 12:25 remaining in the first half. At that point, Johnson already had three more points than Wabash's entire bench would go on to score in the game.

In the second half, Johnson's third triple marked the go-ahead bucket, and it came with 11:40 remaining. Next, Price's drive sprung Billings open for a triple, and Johnson found an open Billings on the next possession, with that 3-pointer upping Wooster's lead to 49-42. Wooster's 11-0 run was capped by Price, whose driving layup made it 51-42 with 9:30 remaining. Wooster maintained a multi-possession lead the rest of the way.

Price dropped in a game-high 17 points on 7-of-13 shooting. The senior guard had three of Wooster's eight steals. Billings followed with 14 points, six rebounds, three steals, and two assists. Oakley and Johnson combined for 23 points off the bench, helping Wooster to a 28-5 domination in bench contributions. Senior Nick Everett and junior EJ Kapihe matched Billings for the team-high in rebounds at six. Wooster had eight blocks in the game, with Oakley's three being joined by a solo block from senior JJ Cline, junior Jaiden Cox-Holloway, Everett, Johnson, and Price.

Wooster shot 38.2 percent (26-of-68) for the game and outscored Wabash by 15 points from beyond the arc despite shooting just 30 percent (9-of-30) from range. Of note, Wooster had just seven turnovers, the second-fewest by the team in a game this season.

Vinny Buccilla led four in double figures for Wabash with 15 points. Noah Hupmann was the top all-around player for the Little Giants with 13 points, 10 rebounds, and four blocked shots.

Wabash shot 37.7 percent (20-of-53) and was outrebounded 41-38.

Next, Wooster hosts Ohio Wesleyan University (13-8, 8-4 NCAC) on Saturday, February 15 at 7 p.m. Wooster will recognize its senior class prior to tipoff.