24-3 Stretch in First Half Lifts Scots Past Gators 93-76

WOOSTER, Ohio – The College of Wooster held Allegheny College without a field goal for more than nine minutes midway through the first half, constructing a 40-16 lead during that stretch, and cruised to a 93-76 victory in North Coast Athletic Conference play Thursday night at Timken Gymnasium. The match-up had originally been slated for Wednesday, but was postponed a day to inclement weather.

The two teams traded baskets and defensive stops for much of the first six-plus minutes. Holding a 16-13 lead at that point, Wooster (13-5, 8-1 NCAC), which remains in a tie for first-place in the conference standings, proceeded to outscore Allegheny (7-11, 3-6 NCAC) by a 24-3 count for the aforementioned 24-point cushion. During that stretch, the Scots defense helped induce the Gators into eight consecutive misses from the floor and four turnovers.

Wooster stretched its lead to 29 on a couple of occasions before settling for a 56-30 halftime advantage.

During the second half, the Scots were ahead by 20-plus points until the final two minutes.

As a team, Wooster made exactly 50.0 percent of its field goals (30-for-60), including 11-of-23 3-pointers (.478), and all but two of its 24 free throw attempts (.917; 22-for-24). Allegheny overcame its cold streak during the first half to finish at 44.4 percent from the floor (24-for-54), including 10-of-25 at 3-point range, but the Gators did struggle at times at the charity stripe (.667; 18-for-27).

Individually, the Scots received season-high scoring efforts from both Justin Hallowell (Worthington, Ohio / Thomas Worthington) and Nathan Balch (Westerville, Ohio / Olentangy). Hallowell nailed 5-of-7 3-pointers en route to 21 points, marking the second time the freshman has reached the 20 plateau, while Balch, another newcomer to the squad this season as a sophomore transfer, produced 18 points.

Senior Marty Bidwell (Middletown, Ohio / Bishop Fenwick) was one point shy of also reaching a season high, as he pumped in 18, highlighted by 9-of-9 free throws. Bidwell contributed four assists, too, while Mike Evans (Pickerington, Ohio / Pickerington North) was a spark off the bench with 12 points. Noteworthy, Bryan Wickliffe (Columbus, Ohio / St. Charles Prep) helped lead Wooster to a 37-30 rebounding edge with a team-leading six.

For Allegheny, Charlie Jaicks connected on 4-of-10 3-pointers, part of a 14-point night.

The Scots are right back in action Saturday afternoon at third-place Ohio Wesleyan University (11-6, 7-2 NCAC).