Wooster Dominates Wittenberg in OT to Win 99-86 in Another Thriller Between the Archrivals

WOOSTER, Ohio – The College of Wooster came back from a 10-point deficit with 8:33 to play in the second half, then dominated the extra session by outscoring Wittenberg University 21-8 as the Fighting Scots prevailed 99-86 in the rivals' second overtime game of the season, this time played in front of a spirited crowd Saturday night inside Timken Gymansium.

Wooster (17-6, 13-3 NCAC), which remains tied for first-place with Ohio Wesleyan University in the conference standings, withstood a red-hot shooting performance from Wittenberg (14-9, 9-7 NCAC) during the second half. After misfiring on their first shot after halftime, the Tigers made 11 consecutive field goals in taking the only double-digit lead of regulation for either team at 65-55.

Coming out of a timeout, Mitch Balser hit a pair of 3-poiners, sandwiched around a Wittenberg turnover, to quickly cut the deficit to four points. The Tigers answered his second with their 12th-straight field goal make, as post Chad Roy converted a three-point play to make it a three-possession game again (68-61).

It was 73-65 when the Scots made another run. A Reece Dupler mid-range jumper at the 5:11 mark was followed on the other end by Wooster's defense forcing a five-second count on an in-bounds play and Balser dropped in a jump shot to bring the hosts within four.

Jaelin Williams interrupted the run momentarily, hitting a fade-away jumper from the left side, then Dan Fanelly made a reverse lay-up plus an ensuing free throw, which put the score at 75-72 with 3:42 left.

Neither team scored for about a minute until a Dupler steal led to a foul that sent Spencer Williams to the free throw line. He swished both to pull the Scots within one.

That was the beginning of a series of free throws. Witttenberg's Chris Sloneker split a pair, Josh Kipfer connected on two to tie it 76-76, and Jaelin Williams gave the visitors back the lead when he made 1-of-2 with 1:30 on the clock.

Next, Alex LaLonde found an open lane to the hoop, converting a lay-up to give Wooster its first lead (78-77) since the 14:29 mark of the half, but Shane Edwards of the Tigers split two more at the charity stripe to even the scoreboard at 78 with 1:04 remaining.

Those were the last points of regulation.

The overtime was all Scots, starting with LaLonde winning the tip and Williams racing to the bucket for a lay-up. A defensive stop was followed by Kipfer collecting an offensive rebound, being fouled, and hitting two more clutch free throws (82-78).

After Jaelin Williams made a pair at the foul line, Spencer Williams beat his defender off the dribble en route to a pull-up jumper in the paint and LaLonde extended the lead to six (86-80) with a couple of free throws.

Wittenberg's Williams again earned a trip to the charity stripe and hit both to make it 86-82 with 2:01 showing.

Wooster was able to extend the ensuing possession via an offensive rebound and Kipfer laid one in off a nice feed from Dupler.

The Tigers came up empty on their next possession, then began to foul, and the Scots proceeded to make 9-of-11 free throws during the last 1:04.

Wooster, which had led 42-37 at halftime, was outshot 50.8 percent (31-for-61) to 47.8 percent (33-for-69) from the field, but the key was committing just seven turnovers and helping force Wittenberg into 17.

All five of the Scots' starters scored in double figures, paced by Williams's 22 points and Balser's 19. They both distributed four assists as well.

LaLonde had another strong all-around performance of 15 points, eight rebounds, two assists, and two blocked shots, while Dupler and Kipfer contributed 11 points apiece.

Williams led Wittenberg with 17 points and nine boards, and Edwards produced in a variety of areas, tallying 15 points, seven rebounds, four assists, and two steals.

Wooster travels to Allegheny College (3-20, 3-13 NCAC) on Wednesday for a 7:30 p.m. tip-off.