Wooster Unable to Overcome No. 16 Denison's Second-Half Run

WOOSTER, Ohio – Junior Jaiden Cox-Holloway's career-high 22 points and The College of Wooster men's basketball team's 10-of-12 start from the floor were some of the highlights, but an extended second-half cold spell cost the Fighting Scots in Wednesday's 77-65 setback against No. 16 Denison University at Timken Gymnasium.

Wooster (13-4, 5-3 North Coast Athletic Conference) raced out to a 24-12 lead with the 10-of-12 start from the floor. Cox-Holloway hit two triples, while junior Isaiah Johnson and first-year Breckman Oakley both connected from range in the opening 8:14. Cox-Holloway was equally impressive defensively, denying Aidan King twice in the 24-12 stretch.

Wooster's second-half start mirrored the trajectory of the first stanza, as a 10-0 run spanned less than a minute. Senior Nick Everett's layup gave Wooster a 39-38 lead, while two Cox-Holloway 3-pointers upped the Scots' edge to 47-38. Senior Jamir Billings knocked away a Darren Rubin pass before finding Cox-Holloway open on the second 3-pointer, in what marked his seventh assist of the contest.

However, Cox-Holloway's 3-pointer with 17:54 remaining was the last Wooster field goal for an extended stretch. Denison strung together a 19-0 run before Everett free throws pulled Wooster within 57-49 with 9:55 showing on the clock. A Billings driving layup with 3:58 to go and Everett's dunk with 2:20 remaining had Wooster back within eight at 65-57 and 67-59. Wooster was able to trim its deficit as close as 70-63 on Cox-Holloway free throws inside the final minute.

Cox-Holloway's 22 points topped the 21 the junior scored at Otterbein University earlier this season. The forward was 7-of-14 from the floor and blocked four shots, one shy of a career-best. He led Wooster with eight rebounds.

Everett followed with 21 points, scoring nine of those at the charity stripe. He had two of Wooster's other three blocked shots and a pair of steals.

Billings finished with eight assists and five steals, while Oakley followed the two 20-point scorers with seven points.

Wooster shot 45.1 percent (23-of-51) and was 13-of-17 at the line for 76.5 percent.

Denison was led by 20 points from Trevor Reed. Reed went 6-of-9 from the floor. Tyler Miller dropped in 11 points off the bench and passed out a team-high four assists.

The Big Red shot 51 percent (26-of-51) from the field, but were just 18-of-31 at the line.

Next, Wooster opens the second round of league play with a 3 p.m. contest at Oberlin College (10-7, 2-6 NCAC) on Saturday, January 25.