Wittenberg (25-3), which claimed its fifth NCAC tourney crown (first since 2002), now advances to the NCAA Div. III Tournament via the league’s automatic berth, while the Scots, with their 26-2 overall record, hope to nab one of the seven at-large bids.
After trailing by as much as 12 in the second half (46-34, 48-36), Wooster used a 13-3 run, keyed by James Cooper to pull within two (51-49) at the seven-minute mark. Cooper scored 10 consecutive points for the Scots during that stretch, including two 3-pointers.
Wooster continued its run with two more defensive stops, but offensively, split a pair of free throws and missed an open 3-pointer from the left wing, which allowed the Tigers to maintain the lead (51-50).
Wittenberg then ended a seven-minute stretch without a field goal, as Kenny Molz and Andy Bucheit knocked down 3-pointers on its next two possessions, sandwiched by a jumper from Tom Port, which made it 57-52.
The Tigers extended their lead back up to seven (59-52) before the Scots rallied once more. Port canned a 3-pointer with just under two minutes to go, and after a defensive stop, Matt Schlingman converted a lay-up to bring Wooster within 59-57.
On the ensuing possession, Wittenberg misfired on a long 3-point attempt and it was rebounded by Tim Vandervaart (North Canton, Ohio / Hoover) with :43 remaining.
During the Scots’ second-to-last possession, Vandervaart was fed the ball on the right block with the shot clock starting to wind down. He turned into the paint and got off a well-defended shot that bounced off the back rim. It was rebounded by Bucheit.
Forced to foul, Wooster sent Daniel Russ to the line and the junior knocked both to effectively seal it.
In the first half, the Scots scored the first two points, but then Bucheit hit a 3-pointer and the Tigers led the rest of the way. Wittenberg pulled out to a lead of 29-19, behind eight points from Russ during the opening 15 minutes.
Wooster brought the deficit down to four by halftime (33-29).
Russ was voted tournament MVP after scoring a team-high 19 points on 8-of-12 shooting from the field. Bucheit picked up all-tournament team honors, following a 12-point performance in the title game, all of which came on 3-pointers (4-for-8).
For the Scots, Cooper scored a career-high 19 points, hitting 3-of-5 3-pointers and 8-of-13 field goals overall, and Schlingman tallied 12 points on 6-of-8 field goals. They earned all-tourney honors, as did semifinal participants Brandon Miller of Earlham College and Adonis Joseph of Wabash College.
Statistically, Wooster shot nearly 50 percent from the field (.490) and outrebounded the Tigers 28-23. However, Wittenberg connected on 54.3 percent of their attempts from the field (25-for-46) – the first time a Scot opponent has made more than half their shots from the floor this season.
The NCAA will announce the field for the Div. III men’s tournament at 10:30 p.m. on Sunday (Feb. 28).