No. 10 Scots Edge Purple Raiders 80-73 in Battle of Preseason Conference Favorites

WOOSTER, Ohio – The College of Wooster, ranked 10th in NCAA Div. III (D3hoops.com), put together a 23-6 stretch midway through Friday night's second half for a 10-point lead and held off a late charge by the University of Mount Union, as the Fighting Scots emerged an 80-73 winner between two teams picked to win their respective conferences in the first game of the annual Al Van Wie/Rotary Classic at Timken Gymnasium.

Down 46-42 to the Ohio Athletic Conference preseason favorites with 12:40 remaining, Wooster (2-0) played its best basketball of the night on both ends of the floor, kick started by the first of three second-half 3-pointers from Ari Stern. The Scots regained the lead at 54-51 on Stern's second 3-ball and his third pushed their advantage to double digits (63-53) for the first time since the first half.

As impressive as Stern was during that stretch, Josh Kipfer and Spencer Williams chipped in six points apiece and Wooster's defense induced Mount Union (1-1) into 3-for-12 shooting from the field and a turnover.

Shortly after, though, Jarrett Ruffin and Cody Dillon drained back-to-back 3-pointers to pull the Purple Raiders within 65-61 around the five-minute mark.

Kipfer split a pair of free throws, then after a defensive stop, Alex LaLonde converted a lay-up, assisted by Evan Pannell for a 68-61 cushion, but Mount Union did not go away as the visitors chipped away and made it a one-possession game (69-66) with 3:12 left.

That was the first of four times the Purple Raiders closed within three points – 69-66, 72-69, 74-71, and 76-73 – but the Scots answered each time. In fact, only once during that stretch did Mount Union have possession with a chance to tie, and with the score 74-71 and a little over one minute on the clock, Wooster's Dan Fanelly came through with a blocked a shot and defensive rebound.

On the other end, the Scots worked the shot clock down, followed by LaLonde hitting a runner to make it a two-possession game (76-71). LaLonde also sealed the outcome by calmly sinking 4-of-4 free throws.

Wooster led the majority of the first half, including by as much as 22-12, and the hosts were up 33-28 at the halftime break.

The Purple Raiders accounted for 10 of the opening 12 points of the second half to take the lead, which eventually elevated to as much as 43-37.

Statistically, the difference in the game was the Scots' ability to get to the free throw line, where they struggled a little bit at times but still finished just under 70 percent (.697; 23-for-33).

Wooster's offense was very balanced with four in double figures, paced by Kipfer for the second consecutive game. He had 16 points, including 10-of-12 free throws, while Williams tallied 14, Fanelly 13, and Pannell 11 to go with six rebounds, four assists, and two steals.

For Mount Union, JJ Kukura countered with 16 points and Deallen Jackson added 15 plus five assists.

The Al Van Wie/Rotary Classic continues on Saturday with Saint Vincent College (1-2) visiting Wooster at 6 p.m.