Scots Hold Off OWU's Rally, Retaking Lead Twice During Final 1:03 for 80-77 Win

James Cooper

DELAWARE, Ohio ­– James Cooper (Springfield, Ohio / Springfield South) had a 30-point game for the fourth time in his career and The College of Wooster, ranked No. 25 (D3hoops.com), survived a second-half comeback by host Ohio Wesleyan University, retaking the lead twice during the final 1:03 to prevail 80-77 in a key early-season North Coast Athletic Conference contest Saturday afternoon.

The two teams were picked 1-2 in the NCAC preseason polls, and they were fairly evenly matched throughout.

Around the midway point of the second half, though, Wooster (4-2, 2-0 NCAC) had built a 13-point lead (61-48). Ohio Wesleyan (3-4, 0-1 NCAC) then made a series of mini-runs, but the Fighting Scots, led by Cooper, who had 14 of his squad’s 20 points during one stretch of the second half, seemed to have an answer each time.

After Cooper sunk a pair of free throws to give Wooster a 72-62 advantage at the 5:00 mark, the Scots had to fight through some adversity. One of their starters fouled out the next possession, which saw the Battling Bishops can 4-of-4 free throws, two coming on a technical.

The momentum had swung to Ohio Wesleyan, as it scored nine of the game’s next 10 points for a 13-1 run overall, taking the lead at 75-73 with just over two minutes to play, when another Wooster starter fouled out. The Bishops even had a possession to give themselves a two-possession cushion, but the Scots’ defense forced a tough jumper and they came down with the rebound.

Cooper got to the free throw line on the ensuing possession, making the first but then missing the second to pull within one at 75-74. Next, Ohio Wesleyan misfired on a 3-pointer and the Scots worked their way to the line again after throwing the ball into post Bryan Wickliffe (Columbus, Ohio / St. Charles Prep), who was fouled. The freshman forward nailed both free throws, giving Wooster a one-point edge (76-75) with 1:03 remaining.

Jesse Jean gave the Bishops back the lead, hitting a short jumper with :44 to go. After working the ball in-and-out of the post with Evan Will (Dublin, Ohio / Dublin Coffman), the Scots’ Dustin Geitgey (West Salem, Ohio / Northwestern) drove to the hoop and put up a close-range shot. It fell off the rim, but Wickliffe got between two Ohio Wesleyan defenders to collect the offensive rebound and went back up with it, converting the lay-up to give the Scots back the lead (78-77) with :18 left.

With time winding down, the Bishops attempted a baseline drive, but they turned the ball over at the 5.8 second mark. Wooster would then successfully in-bound the ball to Devin Fulk (Newark, Ohio / Licking Valley), who was fouled and calmly sunk both free throws for the three-point cushion.

Ohio Wesleyan did get a tying 3-point attempt off, but it was hurried and well off the mark.

In the first half, the Bishops opened up a six-point lead on a couple of occasions (16-10, 19-13). Later, the Scots would score nine unanswered points to take a 29-22 lead and they would go on to a 39-34 advantage at the break.    

Overall, Wooster shot the ball well, making 56.3 percent of its field-goal attempts (27-of-48), including 9-of-14 3-pointers (.643), and 81.0 percent at the free throw line (17-of-21). The Scots also outrebounded Ohio Wesleyan 33-28, but committed 18 turnovers.

Cooper’s 32 points were a season-high and the third-most of his career, and it marked his second 30-point game against the Bishops. The senior shooting guard connected on 10-of-14 from the floor (2-of-3 pointers) and 10-of-11 free throws.

Fulk, who came into Saturday as Wooster’s leading scorer (15.2 ppg), also had another solid game. The two clutch free throws gave him 17 points for the game, getting the rest on 6-of-9 field goals (3-of-4 3-pointers).

Will led the team in rebounding with nine, while Marty Bidwell (Middletown, Ohio / Bishop Fenwick) and Wickliffe chipped in nine points apiece. Another key contributor was Geitgey, who had eight points while playing 22 minutes.

Ohio Wesleyan put five in double figures, led by Kyle Holliday’s 17-point outing.

The Scots are off for final exams before hosting Walsh University (8-1) next Saturday at 8:30 p.m., capping the first day of the WQKT/Steve Smith Holiday Hoops Classic at Timken Gymnasium. The two-day event also consists of seven high-caliber high school games.