For Wooster, which finishes the regular season with just one blemish on its overall record (24-1) and 15-1 in conference play, it marks the program’s fifth NCAC title in the last eight seasons, and eighth overall in the 21-year history of the conference.
Ohio Wesleyan (12-13, 8-8 NCAC) came back from a seemingly insurmountable 43-25 halftime deficit, pulling within five points with more than seven minutes remaining in regulation. During one stretch, the Battling Bishops went on an 18-5 run, which featured eight points from reserve Brian Cafarella, who was averaging 1.2 points entering Saturday’s contest.
The Scots steadied themselves, though, with the big shot coming from Tom Port, as he knocked down a jumper just to the left of the top of the key, assisted by Matt Schlingman, which made it a 68-58 game with 4:28 to play.
After a series of scoreless possessions, Ohio Wesleyan got it down to eight-point margin only to see Wooster close the game on an 8-2 run.
During the first half, it was close for 10 minutes. Then, the Scots played one of their best stretches of the season, extending a 21-18 lead to as much as 19 (41-22) and went into the break ahead 18. Schlingman and fellow senior Blake Mealer, who were making their final regular season appearance at Timken Gym, combined for 13 of Wooster’s last 19 points of the half.
Overall, Schlingman was a perfect 8-for-8 from the field while finishing with a game-high 21 points, just one shy of his career-high set last week. Port had 12 points on 5-of-8 shots from the floor and a team-high nine rebounds, and James Cooper added 10 points.
The Bishops were paced by their young post combination of Ben Chojnacki and Dustin Rudegeair. Chojnakci, a sophomore, reached his scoring average with 17 points, while Rudegeair, a freshman, posted a double-double with 12 points and game-high 11 rebounds.
The difference in the contest may have been rebounding, as Wooster held a significant advantage in that department (45-25). The Scots also connected on more than 50 percent of their field-goal attempts (.527) to Ohio Wesleyan’s rate of .361, but it stayed close due to 13 Wooster turnovers.
On Tuesday night (Feb. 22), the Scots will kickoff the postseason, as the top seed in the NCAC tourney and will host eighth-seeded Kenyon College (5-20, 4-12 NCAC) at 7:30 p.m.