NORMAL, Illinois – The College of Wooster – NCAA Div. III's winningest men's basketball program of the 2000s – had another tremendous opportunity with its fourth exhibition contest against a NCAA Div. I program in the last six seasons on Sunday afternoon. Illinois State University, led by first-year head coach Ryan Pedon – a 2000 Wooster alumnus – beat the Fighting Scots 84-49 at Redbird Arena.
Wooster led 11-10 at the first half's 12:51 mark. Senior Najee Hardaway found success driving to the bucket with six of the Scots' first 13 points. Junior Nick Everett was open at the low block twice to help the Scots stay competitive early. His first bucket was a two-handed dunk, and sophomore Jamir Billings found him again on the next possession. Billings' steal on the Redbirds' Darius Burford sparked Wooster's best first-half stretch.
Senior Turner Kurt poked the ball away from Seneca Knight early in the second half, and that led to a fastbreak Hardaway layup. Hardaway's turnaround jumper from the middle of the key was money following a Billings steal, and the Scots' point guard had the shooter's touch on a tear drop following a drawn charge by junior JJ Cline. Everett upped his afternoon scoring haul to 10 with a layup at the 11:27 mark. Later, junior Elijah Meredith picked off a Luke Kasubke pass, beat the Redbirds down the floor for the fastbreak layup, then splashed down a quick-trigger three-ball.
Hardaway and Meredith combined for 23 points and were both 5-for-9 from the floor. Billings emerged as the high Scot in rebounds at five and he matched Hardaway for the team lead with three assists. Wooster shot 35.2 percent (19-of-54) from the floor and had 18 turnovers.
Colton Sandage rode a 5-for-9 showing from beyond the arc to a 23-point afternoon to lead four Redbirds in double figures. Kasubke had eight rebounds and four assists. Illinois State shot 47.5 percent (29-of-61) and had 13 turnovers.
Wooster's other recent exhibitions against Div. I teams came at University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (2021), which was coached by 1996 Wooster alumnus Lamont Paris, Kent State University (2017), and Ohio State University (2017), where Pedon was the lead assistant at the time.
Wooster opens its season at home against Mount Aloysius College on Friday, November 18 at 8 p.m. The game is part of the Al Van Wie/Wooster Rotary Classic, where fans can get half-price admission with the donation of two canned or boxed food items, which will be donated to People to People Ministries' food bank.
photo courtesy of Dennis Banks, Illinois State Athletics
