Wednesday’s win boosted Wooster’s record to 19-2 and 12-1 in the North Coast Athletic Conference, which coupled with Wittenberg University’s 87-51 victory over Earlham College, keeps the Scots one-game in back of rival Wittenberg (19-3, 13-0 NCAC) in the league standings. Wooster is ranked No. 5 in this week’s D3Hoops.com national poll, while Wittenberg jumped eight spots to No. 10.
The Scots scored the first 15 points just over five minutes into the Allegheny game, with six players contributing baskets during that stretch. The Gators (10-12, 6-7 NCAC) fought back valiantly in the first half, going on a 21-9 run to cut it down to a three-point contest (24-21).
Wooster, though, entered the half with a comfortable eight-point lead (34-26), thanks to a key play by PJ McCloud. After holding the ball for the last shot, Allegheny tried to create a play that would pull the Gators within three again, but McCloud made a steal at the arc and raced to the other end, where he converted a lay-up while being fouled. He finished the three-point play.
The Scots began the second half well, too. They immediately pushed the lead into double-digits and steadily stretched out to 16 (49-33) by the 12:11 mark. Allegheny never pulled any closer than 14.
Rodney Mitchell paved the way for Wooster, producing a stat line of 18 points, six rebounds, four assists, and four steals. Tom Port also was effective in a variety of ways, scoring 11 points to go with game-highs of seven rebounds and seven assists. Four of Port’s points came via dunks, including an alley-oop from Mitchell. McCloud had 10 points in 12 minutes.
The Gators only put one in double figures, as Matt Majzlik contributed 16 points in the post.
Statistically, the difference in the game was rebounding. The Scots, who are the NCAA Div. III statistical leaders in rebounding margin (+14.0 per game), added to that with a 29-rebound advantage.
Defensively, Wooster put forth another good effort, nearly holding its second-straight opponent to under 50 points until Allegheny hit a couple of three-pointers in the final 1:34. The Scots limited Matt Magnusen, the NCAC’s leading scorer coming in (21.8 ppg), to just seven points on 3-of-13 field goals.
Game time at Timken Gymnasium on Saturday is set for 7:30 p.m. Wooster, which lost to Wittenberg 72-62 four weeks ago in Springfield, Ohio, will be tying to create a first-place tie in the NCAC.