Wooster Holds Off Wabash, Improves to 3-0 in NCAC Play

WOOSTER, Ohio – The College of Wooster men's basketball team knocked down all eight of its free throw attempts in the final 39.1 seconds, and the Fighting Scots' ability to play strong team defense at critical junctures enabled the Black and Gold to hold off Wabash College for a 79-74 victory on Saturday afternoon at Timken Gymnasium.

Wooster (5-1, 3-0 North Coast Athletic Conference) sophomore Khaylen Mahdi was fouled twice in the closing stretch, and his free throws with 3.0 seconds left bumped the Scots' lead out to two possessions. Wabash's (5-3, 1-1 NCAC) Tyler Watson kept his Little Giants in the hunt with two three-pointers in the final 10.8 seconds. The second of Watson's trifectas pulled Wabash within 77-74 with 4.0 seconds left.

Junior Dontae Williams, who hit two of Wooster's other four free throws in the final seconds, powered through contact to finish a layup with 18:01 remaining in the game. That score put Wooster up for good at 37-36, and Williams went on to finish the three-point play. Not long after, senior Trenton Tipton, who was the other Scot who earned a trip to the charity stripe in the closing stretch, picked Watson's pocket, and his fast-break lay-in upped Wooster's lead to 40-36 with 16:54 on the clock.

Tipton's three-pointer with 15:14 to go started a decisive 16-0 run, during which Wooster's defense ramped up the intensity. Wabash was whistled for a shot clock violation with 13:04 remaining, and nearly faced the same fate on its next possession. Connor Rotterman hoisted up a desperation three-ball as the shot clock was about to expire, but Wooster sophomore Brandon Styers swatted it aside. That led to a quick runout, during which Williams was fouled on his way to the hoop, and he knocked down both free throws as part of a 9-for-10 showing at the line. Hempy's three-pointer capped the run, and Wooster's lead at that point ballooned to 56-38 with 10:29 remaining.

Jack Davidson broke the Little Giants' six-minute scoring drought at the 9:10 mark. While he did log eight assists, it was a tough afternoon in the scoring column for the returning All-American, thanks to the likes of Mahdi, junior Keonn Scott, junior Jaylen Franklin, Tipton, and Williams, who were the main primary and secondary defenders that played a part in holding the junior to a 4-of-14 ledger from the floor.

Ahmoni Jones' tip-in with 2:59 remaining helped set the stage for the closing stretch. That bucket pulled the Little Giants within 67-60 and marked the capper of an 11-1 run.

Wooster's first-half highlights included a rare four-point play by Hempy, three late jumpers by Scott, which factored heavily into the two teams going into the locker room tied at 32, and two steals each by Hempy and Williams.

Hempy's 21 points led all scorers. The Scots' senior was 8-of-16 from the floor, which included a 3-of-5 showing from beyond the arc. Williams logged his second double-double of the year, thanks to 19 points and 11 rebounds. Other stats to note included four assists by Scott and three steals by Tipton.

Wooster shot 41.7 percent (25-of-60) from the floor for the game and was an impressive 20-of-24 at the charity stripe.

Watson's 14 points led three Little Giants in double figures, while Jones took home top-billing on the team in rebounding with nine.

Wabash shot 42.1 percent (24-of-57) from the floor, and the Little Giants missed one free throw on 19 attempts.

Next, Wooster's off to Daytona Beach, Florida, where the Scots will play in the Mauro Panaggio Tournament. Wooster takes on Saint John Fisher College (4-3) at noon on Sunday, December 15 at DME Sports Academy.