JG Gillard

Danyon Hempy

HIRAM, Ohio – Senior Danyon Hempy moved past College of Wooster legend Ian Franks for fifth on the storied program's all-time scoring list, and the 14th-ranked Fighting Scots turned in one of their most-balanced performances of the season during Saturday's 98-76 win over Hiram College at Price Gymnasium.

Hempy's jumper with 10:15 to go officially moved the four-year star past Wooster's (14-3, 8-2 North Coast Athletic Conference) two-time All-American, who dropped 1,696 points from 2007-11. At that point, Hempy's Saturday afternoon point haul stood at 17, and the NCAC's leading scorer went on to drop 11 more to finish with a game-high 28.

While there were plenty of highlights and career performances by game's end, Hiram (5-12, 2-8 NCAC) raced out to a 15-6 lead less than six minutes into the contest. A triple by sophomore JG Gillard with 6:26 to go before halftime gave Wooster its first lead of the day at 27-25. Gillard's three-ball came in the midst of an 11-0 run that was headlined by a trio of three-pointers by the Scots' bench players. Gillard accounted for two of the triples, and the sophomore was just as active on the defensive end, evidenced by two rebounds in the midst of the run.

Wooster strung together another lengthy run – this time an 11-2 stretch – near the end of the first half, as the Scots turned an early nine-point deficit into a nine-point halftime lead. Senior Trenton Tipton's three-pointer started that stretch and marked the go-ahead bucket. Later in the run, sophomore Najee Hardaway powered inside for a lay-in, and Tipton's hook-shot fell off the glass to up Wooster's lead to 39-32.

Gillard's ability to provide a spark off the bench carried over to the second half. The forward's off-balance, left-handed floater through contact started the first of three Wooster 7-0 runs in the stanza. Two possessions later, Hempy converted on an old-fashion three-point play, and Tipton's drive to the hoop upped the Scots lead to 57-43 with 14:44 remaining.

Later a 64-second stretch featuring a Keonn Scott three-pointer, an offensive rebound and stick-back by Tipton, and a lay-in by Tipton off Hardaway's steal and assist resulted in Wooster claiming an 87-71 advantage with 3:51 to go.

Wooster closed the game with its final 7-0 stretch. Hempy and freshman Jacob Adams knocked down three-pointers to lead the way offensively, while Tipton chased down his game-high third steal to headline the defensive efforts.

Six Scots finished in double figures in the scoring column, including sophomore Brandon Styers, Hardaway, and Gillard, who all upped their career-highs. Styers scored 15 points on 5-of-7 shooting, which included a 3-of-5 ledger from three-point land. Hardaway's series of impressive drives to the basket led to a 13-point afternoon on 6-of-8 shooting. Gillard finished with 12 points, and his six rebounds led the Scots.

Wooster shot 56.9 percent (37-of-65) from the floor, marking the fifth time in the last six games the Scots finished above 56 percent. The Scots were 13-of-28 on three-pointers and 11-of-15 at the line.

Hiram's Antonio McQueen scored 23 points and corralled a co-game-high seven rebounds.

The Terriers' shot 48.4 percent (30-of-62) from the floor, 7-of-20 from beyond the arc, and were 9-of-16 at the line.

Next, Wooster's back home to take on Allegheny College (10-7, 4-6 NCAC) at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, January 29.

Landing photo by Spencer Dilyard '22.