Scots Could Clinch Share of NCAC Crown With Win Over Rival

Devin Fulk scored 16 points off the bench against Wittenberg at home last season.

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History of Wooster-Wittenberg Rivalry

Whiteout! The Wooster athletic department is encouraging all fans to wear white in support of the Fighting Scots for this Saturday night's game against Wittenberg.

It seems like everytime Wittenberg University and The College of Wooster match up there’s a lot on the line, and Saturday night is no different as one of the best small-college basketball rivalry’s revs up again.

For Wooster, a win clinches a share of the North Coast Athletic Conference championship, which would mark the fourth in as many tries for the Fighting Scots’ senior class of James Cooper, Devin Fulk, and Evan Will – a first in team history. Additionally, Wooster would need just one more win next week to sew up home-court advantage in the NCAC Tournament.

On the other hand, a Wittenberg victory gives the Tigers control of their own destiny, in terms of hosting the conference’s postseason tourney. While Wittenberg and Wooster would be tied with 12-2 league records under that scenario, the Tigers would own the tiebreaker advantage due to a regular season sweep.

In that first meeting (Jan. 19), Wittenberg made a series of clutch plays at the end of regulation and in overtime to pull out an 87-86 triumph. The Scots had led for all but a few possessions, but couldn’t finish off the Tigers, who received a career-high 26 points from Brandan Barabino as well as some key shots courtesy of all-NCAC guard Gregg Hill.

Wooster is hoping to do a better job on them defensively, and also contain sharp-shooter Kevin Murray. Hill averages 17.0 points, Murray 12.3, and Barabino 12.1 as well as a team-high 2.4 assists. All three are 3-point threats, each having made 20-plus this season. In the post, Mark Snyder has developed into a significant force for Wittenberg.

On the other end of the court, it will be a match up of the Scots’ high-powered offensive attack (87.2 ppg, 50.9 FG%) against the Tigers’ stingy defense (64.8 ppg, 41.6 FG%). The first time around this year, Wooster was right around its season averages – 86 points, albeit in overtime, and 50.8 FG% – but lost the rebounding battle 39-28.

The Scots will attempt to put their traditionally balanced offense on display. Currently, they have six players averaging double figures, led by Cooper’s 18.9 points, which ranks second in the conference. Fulk and Will are also closing their careers in style, tallying personal-bests of 11.8 and 10.2 per game, respectively.

Wooster’s other three top players throughout the 2007-08 season have been junior point guard Brandon Johnson, junior forward Marty Bidwell, and freshman post Bryan Wickliffe.