Wooster heads into its showdown with arch-rival Wittenberg University this Saturday with a 7-0 mark, including three wins in NCAC play. Both teams are ranked among the top-five in NCAA Div. III, as the Scots are currently slotted at No. 2 and Wittenberg, which will enter the game at 6-0, is No. 3.
Wednesday’s game appeared to be a mismatch on paper, and it played out that way. After winless Oberlin (0-9, 0-2 NCAC) scored the first bucket, Wooster steadily built a double-digit lead of 14-4 within the opening five minutes. The Yeomen then got the margin down to six on back-to-back baskets only to see the Scots quickly pull away. They outscored Oberlin 46-16 the rest of the half, including a 15-3 stretch which closed the half and made it 60-24.
The second half was a mere formality, with Wooster leading between 36-to-59 points the whole way.
Twelve of the 13 Scot players that dressed scored, including seven in double figures. James Cooper went for 15 points on 6-of-10 field goals, sharing team honors with Devin Fulk, who matched a career-high for the second time in three games. Fulk’s 15 came on 6-of-8 shooting from the floor, including 3-of-3 on 3-pointers. Fulk notched another career-high with a team-leading eight rebounds.
Kyle Witucky also knocked in three 3-pointers out of six attempts on his way to a 13-point night, followed by Tom Port and Brandon Johnson with 12 apiece. Port’s outside shot was not falling, so he distributed a game-high six assists without a turnover, while Johnson’s 12 points were a season-high.
Evan Will turned in 11 points off the bench and rounding out the double-digit scorers was Tim Vandervaart with 10 markers.
Also noteworthy, freshman Marty Bidwell played his best game to date, tallying nine points, seven rebounds, five assists, and three steals.
Last season’s NCAC Newcomer of the Year, Quinton Spencer, finished with a stat line of 15 points, 13 rebounds, three assists, three steals, and 39 minutes played in a Yeomen effort.
Overall, Wooster held Oberlin to just under 30 percent field-goal shooting (21-of-72) and won the rebounding battle 58-39. The Scots made exactly 55 percent of their shots form the floor (44-of-80), and recorded 32 assists on 44 field goals.
Tip time for the Wittenberg-Wooster game will be at 7:30 p.m.