Balch's Big Night Lifts Scots Past Wittenberg 67-53

The College of Wooster's Nathan Balch (Westerville, Ohio / Olentangy) and Ian Franks (Greenwich, Ohio / South Central) each hit 3-pointers after Wittenberg University had pulled within six on two separate occasions during the final five minutes, as the Fighting Scots completed a 67-53 victory Saturday night in Springfield, Ohio, and earned a regular season sweep of the rival Tigers.

More importantly, Wooster stays on track for the North Coast Athletic Conference championship, remaining in a first-place tie with Ohio Wesleyan University at 12-2 with two games left.

The Scots, who received 22 points and eight rebounds (both career highs) from Balch, nearly led wire-to-wire on Saturday. The two defenses dominated the opening minutes, as it was a 6-5 game, with Wittenberg ahead, more than seven minutes into the action.

Then, Wooster discovered its offense, scoring on five consecutive possessions as part of a 14-1 spurt, which added up to a 12-point advantage (19-7). Franks started the run with a 3-pointer and Balch nailed three more during the stretch.

Wittenberg (11-11, 8-6 NCAC) cut into the deficit a little bit, pulling within 21-14, only to see the Scots tally six unanswered for a 13-point cushion (27-14), and it would be 15 at the halftime break (35-20).

The margin stayed in double-digits for all but one possession of the second half's first 12 minutes. Things got interesting around the five-minute mark, as the Tigers' Kyle Peterson trimmed it to six (54-48). Balch, though, answered seconds later with a 3-pointer.

A series of 3-of-4 free throws for Wittenberg made it a two-possession game (57-51) with just under 4:00 to play, but again, Wooster came up with a big 3-pointer, this one from Franks.

Another Balch 3-pointer about 90 seconds later pushed the lead out to 63-53 with 2:30 to go, and after a defensive stop, Greg Ross (Cincinnati, Ohio / Archbishop McNicholas) converted an offensive put-back to seal the Scots' win as they improved to 17-6 overall.

Statistically, rebounding was the difference. Wooster held a 37-26 advantage in that category and converted 10 offensive rebounds into 19 second-chance points, compared to just five for the Tigers. Additionally, the Scots helped hold Wittenberg to under 40 percent from the field (.362; 17-for-47) and made all 12 of their free throws.

Balch's big scoring night was keyed by 6-of-10 3-point shooting, while Franks went 3-for-7 from outside the arc en route to 19 points. No other Wooster player reached double figures, however, Marty Bidwell (Middletown, Ohio / Bishop Fenwick) provided nine points to go with his customary tough defense, and Ross was a spark with six points and five rebounds during 20 minutes.

The Tigers were paced by the play of Michael Cooper, who had 13 points and seven rebounds.

Next for the Scots is a trip to Allegheny College (10-13, 6-8 NCAC), winners of three of four, on Wednesday night.