Bryan Wickliffe

In its final regular season game of 2009-10, The College of Wooster rolled past Earlham College, constructing a double-digit lead less than eight minutes into the action and never letting the margin slip to single digits during the second half as the 21st-ranked Fighting Scots eventually secured a 90-72 triumph Saturday afternoon at Richmond, Ind.

It marked the teams' final meeting as North Coast Athletic Conference opponents (Earlham announced earlier this academic year that it is withdrawing from the league) and the suspension of Wooster's remarkable 46-game winning streak in the series with the Quakers, as they are not scheduled to play each other at least in the foreseeable future.

The Scots (20-5, 15-1 NCAC) extended another remarkable streak, clinching their 14th-straight season with 20 or more wins. That's the longest active streak in NCAA Div. III.

On Saturday, Wooster went early and often inside to Bryan Wickliffe, who helped the team jump out to a 20-9 lead with 10 points. After the Scots added another bucket, Earlham (3-22, 1-15 NCAC) went on a mini 7-2 run, pulling within seven at 24-17. Wooster quickly pushed it back out to double figures (28-18) and never looked back as it had gained a 45-26 cushion by halftime.

In the second, the Scots maintained a lead of at least 14 the whole way, and extended it to as much as 26 points on a couple of occasions (64-38, 80-54).

For the game, Wooster fired in a season-high 61.4 percent of its shots from the floor (33-for-57) while keeping the Quakers in check with a .377 defensive field-goal percentage (23-of-61). The Scots also held a commanding advantage on the glass with a 39-24 rebounding advantage, including 24-5 at the half.

Wickliffe finished with a season-high 24 points, one short of his career, and he also had 10 rebounds in notching a fourth double-double for the fourth time in the last six games.

Also for Wooster, Nathan Balch tallied 16 points as well as a squad-high five assists and Ian Franks and Mike Evans chipped in 13 and 10 points, respectively. Josh Claytor equaled a season best with eight boards.

Matt Marsh was a bright spot for Earlham with 15 points, including 9-of-10 free throws, and four assists.

Now, the Scots turn their attention to the postseason, which begins on Tuesday evening with the NCAC Tournament quarterfinals. Wooster is the top seed and will welcome Kenyon College (6-18) to Timken Gymnasium for a 7:30 p.m. tip-off.