Six Scots Go For Double Figures During 40-Point Rout

Brandon Johnson

OBERLIN, Ohio – The College of Wooster got back on track Wednesday night, as the Fighting Scots went up by double-digits (18-7) less than eight minutes into their game at Oberlin College and never looked back, cruising to a 94-54 victory in the teams’ North Coast Athletic Conference opener.

Wooster (3-2, 1-0 NCAC), which entered Wednesday having suffered back-to-back losses during the regular season for just the second time in 11 years, steadily built a 15-point cushion (22-7) by the midway point of the first half via a 16-2 run. Six different Scots scored during that stretch, and defensively, they helped hold Oberlin (0-7, 0-1 NCAC) to 1-of-14 shooting from the field.

Continuing to extend its advantage, Wooster was ahead 47-21 at the halftime break and the margin never got any closer than 27 during the second. The Scots, who freely substituted the final five minutes, gained their biggest lead of 42 with 3:41 to play (89-47).

Wooster, which shot over 50 percent from the floor (32-of-63) and outrebounded its hosts 49-32, had a very balanced attack, as six players reached double figures in the scoring department. Devin Fulk (Newark, Ohio / Licking Valley), making his first career start, made all six field goals he attempted, including four 3-pointers, for a team-leading 16-point night.

Marty Bidwell (Middletown, Ohio / Bishop Fenwick) netted 13 points, while James Cooper (Springfield, Ohio / Springfield South) and Dustin Geitgey (West Salem, Ohio / Northwestern) contributed 12 apiece. For Geitgey, it marked a career-high. Additionally, Robert Melick (Gambier, Ohio / Mt. Vernon) and Bryan Wickliffe (Columbus, Ohio / St. Charles Prep) each ended up with 10 points.

The most impressive player of the night was Brandon Johnson (Columbus, Ohio / Groveport Madison), as he had seven points, nine rebounds, and eight assists without a turnover, falling just shy of a triple-double. The eight assists marked a career-high, while he shared game-high honors in rebounding with Bidwell.

Mike Loll pumped in 16 points, including 3-of-6 3-pointers, to lead the Yeomen, who barely finished above 30 percent field-goal shooting (19-of-62) as a team.

Up next for the Scots is a key early-season contest at Ohio Wesleyan University (3-3, 0-0 NCAC) on Saturday at 3 p.m. They were voted as the top-two teams in the NCAC preseason polls.