Bryan Wickliffe

WOOSTER, Ohio – The College of Wooster overcame a 1-for-15 shooting performance from 3-point range, as it steadily pulled away from North Coast Athletic Conference foe Earlham College during the second half to a 63-54 triumph Saturday afternoon at Timken Gymnasium.

While the game appeared to be a mismatch in the NCAC standings, first-place Wooster (11-4, 6-0 NCAC) could not shake eighth-place Earlham (3-12, 1-5 NCAC) for the first 30 minutes.

The Fighting Scots scored the last four points of the first half to take a 31-27 lead, but a lackluster start to the second caused Wooster to call an early timeout when the Quakers pulled within two (31-29). Out of the timeout, Bryan Wickliffe converted a three-point play, which kick-started an 8-0 stretch that covered nearly five minutes of play.

Earlham continued to stay close, though, as it chipped the lead down to five (39-34) and the margin remained in single digits at the midway point of the second half (46-38). At that point, the Scots put together a game-clinching 11-0 run over the next 4:20, highlighted by an Ian Franks steal and fast-break dunk.

Statistically, Wooster's .067 3-point percentage was its lowest mark of the last 10 years and the single 3-pointer made was the lowest since converting 1-of-3 against Emory & Henry College on Nov. 27, 2005.

The Scots overcame their outside woes by getting good looks inside, as they outscored Earlham 46-18 in the paint. They also held a decisive edge in rebounding with a 45-24 advantage.

Despite early foul trouble, Franks wound up with a game-high 19 points, including 8-of-13 field goals, and Wickliffe posted 17 points and eight rebounds in the win.

Josh Claytor collected eight boards, matching his season high, and Kaleb Reed notched a season-high himself with six boards in 15 productive minutes off the bench.

Also of note for Wooster, Justin Hallowell contributed seven rebounds as well as game highs in both assists (4) and blocked shots (2), and Jake Mays chipped in a season-high eight points.

The Quakers were paced in the scoring department by Ryan Taylor's 11.

On Wednesday, the Scots travel to Oberlin College (4-11, 0-6 NCAC) for an 8 p.m. tip-off.