One Point the Difference Again, This Time with Wabash Winning in NCAC Tourney Title Game

WOOSTER, Ohio – Timken Gymnasium hosted what turned into a second instant classic between The College of Wooster men's basketball team and Wabash College in an eight-day span, and this time the Little Giants won, taking the North Coast Athletic Conference Tournament championship game 81-80 on Saturday afternoon.

Wooster (21-6) had a chance for a second buzzer-beating game-winner over Wabash (21-7), but the Scots did not get off a good look. Sophomore Jamir Billings, who broke Rick Hochstetler's 1997 single-game program record with 10 three-pointers, was forced into an off-balance desperation shot from about 30 feet away in the final seconds. Wabash's Ahmoni Jones, who earned the Al Van Wie Award as the tournament's most outstanding player, hit the game-winner on a turnaround jumper from the foul line while heavily contested with 10.2 seconds remaining.

Saturday's battle saw the lead change hands four times in the final 106 seconds, starting with Billings' milestone three-pointer. The Scots' point guard, who scored a career-high 30 points – all on three-pointers – made it a 78-76 game with 1:46 to go. Edreece Redmond's old-fashion three-point play at the 1:14 mark handed the lead back to Wabash at 79-78, and that is where things stood until junior Elijah Meredith was fouled after securing a lengthy down-the-court pass in transition. Meredith's pair at the stripe gave Wooster an 80-79 lead with about 20 seconds left.

Wooster did not lead until junior Nick Everett's free throws with 10:22 remaining. Those capped a 17-point comeback, a deficit the Scots were dealt with 8:24 on the first-half clock. Senior Najee Hardaway's stick-back gave Wooster a 68-67 lead with 9:31 remaining and neither team led by multiple possessions over the final 10:48. The lead changed hands 11 more times following Everett's free throws, and the score was tied five times during that stretch.

Wabash blitzed Wooster at the onset, hitting three three-pointers in the opening 1:48. Threes were all Wabash scored until the 15:07 mark of the opening half, when Gavin Schippert canned a mid-range jumper. Billings rescued Wooster, going 6-of-7 from range in the first half after the Scots fell behind by 17, and Meredith added a triple to help Wooster close within 48-42 at halftime.

Billings finished 10-of-16 from the floor, which included a 10-of-15 afternoon from three-point land. He passed out five assists and finished with four rebounds and two steals. Everett added 19 points and four rebounds, while going 5-of-7 from the floor and 9-of-13 at the line.

Junior Carter Warstler led Wooster with six rebounds. Hardaway added four rebounds and two steals.

Wooster finished at 46.9 percent (23-of-49) from the floor after opening the game with a 58.3 percent clip (14-of-24) in the first half. The Scots made half of their 28 three-pointers and went 20-of-26 at the free throw line.

Schippert, who had the hot start from three-point land, led four Little Giants in double figures with 17 points. Jones and Redmond, who earned an all-tournament team spot, scored 16 points apiece and combined for 15 rebounds and five steals.

Wabash shot 51 percent (26-of-51) for the game, and the Little Giants were a lights-out 61.5 percent (16-of-26) from the floor before halftime. Wabash hit 11-of-23 three-pointers (47.8 percent),  missed just three of 21 free throws, and outrebounded Wooster 29-26.

Billings, Everett, Denison University's Ricky Radtke and DePauw University's Sam Jacobs rounded out the all-tournament team.

Wabash won its second NCAC Tournament title, with both wins coming by a single point over Wooster. The Scots will now have to wait and see if they will be selected for a pool c (at-large) bid for the NCAA Div. III Championships. The field for the Div. III Championships is scheduled to be announced at 1 p.m. ET on Monday, February 27. Should the Scots earn a pool c berth, Wooster will move into a tie with archnemesis Wittenberg University for the most all-time NCAA Div. III Tournament berths at 30.