24th-Ranked Scots Roll in E.M. "Mose" Hole/Wooster Kiwanis Classic & Great Lakes Invitational Opener

WOOSTER, Ohio – The 24th-ranked College of Wooster men's basketball team exploded out of the gate, withstood a late first-half rally by visiting Keene State College, and led by double digits for the entirety of the second half during its 93-76 win on day one of the 57th annual E.M. "Mose" Hole/Wooster Kiwanis Classic, which is also serving as this year's Great Lakes Invitational.

Senior Danyon Hempy was the catalyst behind Wooster's (8-1) game-opening 13-2 stretch, during which the Scots knocked down 5-of-6 field goals. The Scots' leading scorer went on an eight-point spree over the opening 1:45, and not long after, he knocked down a jumper from outside the paint.

Hempy was equally effective defensively with a steal and rebound in the first 3:27. Senior Trenton Tipton cashed in with a three-pointer on the runout after Hempy's rebound, and that three-ball capped the opening stretch.

Keene State (3-6) was within seven twice in the first half, but the Owls never mounted a substantial threat. Jeric Cichon pulled the Owls within 25-18 with 7:57 remaining on a lay-in. Later, the Owls' sophomore scored three points the old-fashion way, with his free throw making it a 28-21 tilt with 7:22 left on the first-half clock.

Wooster took complete control just before halftime, and sophomore Najee Hardaway was a big reason why. The Africana studies and education major knocked down two free throws with 29 seconds left, and then drew a foul on an illegal screen, which gave the Scots a chance to up the lead even more. Junior Dontae Williams did just that. Wooster's forward snuck in a lay-in during the final second of the half, and went on to finish the three-point play, which sent the Scots into the locker room up 45-31.

Wooster, which canned 7-of-11 three-pointers in the second half, received a big boost from junior Keonn Scott, who knocked down three triples as part of a 5-for-8 showing from the floor. His three-pointer with 7:37 to go put Wooster up by 21, the first of five 21-point leads logged by the Scots down the stretch.

Hempy poured in a game-high 21 points on 7-of-10 shooting. The senior finished the contest with five assists, four rebounds, and three steals. Williams scored 19 points and finished a rebound shy of a double-double, while Scott's seven rebounds were one off his career best. Scott and Tipton scored 13 points apiece.

Wooster shot 47.8 percent (32-of-67) from the floor, was a season-best 57.7 percent (15-of-26) from three-point land, made 14-of-16 free throws, and scored 20 points off turnovers.

Cichon's 12 points off the bench led the way for the Owls. Ben Olson was the high man in rebounding with a co-game-high nine, and he added five steals to the stat line.      

Keene State shot 46.2 percent (30-of-65) for the game, was 9-of-23 from beyond the arc, and had 35 bench points.

Saturday's other games saw York College of Pennsylvania (9-2) beat Ohio Wesleyan University (5-4) 87-77, Salisbury University (5-8) knock sixth-ranked Marietta College (8-1) from the ranks of the unbeaten 88-80, and John Carroll University take down 14th-ranked Whitworth University 95-89.

Sunday's four-game slate features York and Marietta at noon, Salisbury and Ohio Wesleyan at 2 p.m., Keene State and John Carroll at 4:30 p.m., and Wooster versus Whitworth at 6:30 p.m. in the first meeting between the two programs since the sectional final of the 2011 NCAA Div. III Championships. Fans can gain half-price admission with the donation of new or gently-worn clothing items, which will be donated to Goodwill Industries of Holmes and Wayne Counties.