Scots Slip Into Tie for Second-Place After Loss at OWU

The College of Wooster scored the first five points of the second half to pull within six (33-27), but it was all Ohio Wesleyan University after that as the Battling Bishops responded with a 22-8 stretch to win going away and earn a split in the season series between the two North Coast Athletic Conference foes with an 83-65 decision Saturday afternoon at Delaware, Ohio.

Now, Ohio Wesleyan and Wooster are tied for second-place in the NCAC with 8-2 marks, a game behind Hiram College (9-1).

The Fighting Scots, 13-6 overall, got a 3-pointer from Ian Franks (Greenwich, Ohio / South Central), followed by a Battling Bishops' turnover and Greg Ross (Cincinnati, Ohio / Archbishop McNicholas) lay-up to start the second half.

That much-needed boost of momentum was quickly turned away when Ohio Wesleyan's Pat Pellerite became free for a lay-in and Kyle Holliday drained a 3-pointer on its next two possessions, pushing the lead back to what it was at the beginning of the half – 11 points.


A little over five minutes into the second, it was still an 11-point margin at 46-35, but then the Bishops came up with three three-point possessions over their next four offensive sets – an old-fashioned three-point play from Holliday and long-distance makes from Kyle Miller and Rob Gardiner.

The resultant 55-35 cushion was too much for the Scots to overcome, as they never got any closer than 14 (72-58).

Wooster gave up a season-high .554 defensive field-goal percentage (31-for-56), which included 8-of-16 3-pointers for Ohio Wesleyan. The other difference in the game was 19 Scot turnovers, compared to just nine committed by the Bishops.

Individually, Wooster placed four in double figures, led by Nathan Balch's (Westerville, Ohio / Olentangy) 14 points. Franks added 13 and four assists, while Marty Bidwell (Middletown, Ohio / Bishop Fenwick) and Justin Hallowell (Worthington, Ohio / Thomas Worthington) chipped in 12 and 11 in the scoring column, respectively. Together, the four accounted for all but 15 of the Scots' points and combined to make 10-of-19 3-pointers.

Ohio Wesleyan received big games from Holliday and Miller. Holliday scored a game-high 27 points, while Miller did a little bit of everything, posting a stat line of 18 points, six rebounds, six assists, and eight steals.

Wooster faces a key clash Wednesday night when it visits Hiram at 7:30 p.m.