Wooster's Winning Streak Over Wittenberg Now at Five

WOOSTER, Ohio – There have only been four winning streaks of at least five games in the great rivalry between The College of Wooster men's basketball team and Wittenberg University, and the Fighting Scots are responsible for three of them after taking the 126th all-time meeting between NCAA Div. III's two winningest teams 68-60 on Saturday night at Timken Gymnasium.

All signs in the first half pointed towards another instant classic brewing, evidenced in particular by seven lead changes, three ties, and just 37 seconds of a team leading by five or more. Wooster (17-4, 11-2 North Coast Athletic Conference) thwarted that by seizing control with 8:07 remaining in the game. Sophomore Jamir Billings found senior Turner Kurt down low for a layup that extended the Scots' lead to 54-47, and Wooster maintained at least a three-possession lead the rest of the game. In fact, Wittenberg (9-11, 5-7 NCAC) went just 2-of-9 from the field over the final 7:44 and did not get within seven until Trey Killens fought off a Wooster player for a steal on the sideline and made a fast-break driving layup with 1:20 remaining.

Following Killens' bucket, Wooster senior Najee Hardaway lobbed a pass to just underneath the basket, except for no Wooster player was there. Junior Carter Warstler quickly changed that by cutting to the basket to receive the lob, and his layup made it a 67-58 game with just outside a minute remaining. In fact, Warstler was fouled on the shot, and finished the old-fashion three-point play that upped Wooster's lead to 10, marking the sixth time the Scots had a double-digit advantage on the night.

Wooster's lead was just 31-30 at halftime, as Levi Boettcher canned a three-pointer in the final two seconds. Earlier, Billings was on the mark from range, with his three-ball staking Wooster to a 20-13 lead at the 6:38 mark. Wittenberg's Bryce Hill answered right back with a three-pointer 30 seconds later, and Boettcher hit another triple immediately after junior Nick Everett's second-chance bucket extended the lead to five in the final minute of the opening half.

Billings had the shooter's touch on a full arsenal of shots, and that led to a co-season-high 20 points. The guard added four rebounds and one assist to his line. Everett followed up his career-high 20 points with 18 on 6-of-8 shooting from the floor. The Scots' junior added nine rebounds and drew eight fouls.

Hardaway enjoyed continued success on the glass against the Tigers, this time finishing with a career-high 13 rebounds. The senior joined junior Elijah Meredith as Wooster's leading assisters at five. Everett and Warstler had Wooster's blocks on the night, and both came at key moments.

Wooster shot 44.6 percent (25-of-56) for the game, outrebounded Wittenberg 40-32, and quadrupled the Tigers in bench points at 24-6.

Killens' 18 points led three Tigers in double digits. He had nine rebounds, which was the team's top total.

Wittenberg shot 36.5 percent (19-of-52), marking a dip of 20.6 percent from the first meeting between the archrivals this year. The Tigers were 42.1 percent on three-pointers at 8-of-19.

Next, Wooster heads to Hiram College (11-11, 5-8 NCAC) for an 8 p.m. tip on Wednesday, February 8.