Earlier this season, the Fighting Scots (21-1, 13-0 NCAC) made 20 3-pointers in a game for the first time in school history (against Thiel College), but they were even more proficient from outside on Wednesday. Six different Wooster players made at least two 3-pointers, led by Kyle Witucky’s 5-of-8 performance, and another made one. The 44 attempts were a team record as well.
It didn’t take long for Wednesday’s game to spiral into a blowout. Leading 12-10, the Scots, owners of the No. 1 ranking in NCAA Div. III basketball, exploded for a 19-2 run (31-12), with a couple of 3-pointers coming from Witucky.
Hiram (3-19, 1-12 NCAC) weathered the storm briefly (34-17) only to see Wooster put together another dominant stretch, in which it outscored the Terriers 30-6 to take a 41-point lead with just under three minutes remaining in the opening half. Andy Van Horn, celebrating his 21st birthday, nailed three 3-pointers during that run.
The Scots went into the break up 68-27, and the margin quickly escalated to 50-plus in the second half and got to as high as 63 (102-39).
Seven Wooster players scored in double figures, led by a career-high 21 points from Devin Fulk. Van Horn reached a season-high 16 tallies, including 4-of-6 3-pointers, and all of Witucky’s points (15) came from beyond the arc. Tom Port matched Witucky’s scoring output while making 3-of-4 3-pointers, Tim Vandervaart was 6-of-6 from the field as part of a 13-point night and passed out a game-high six assists.
Marty Bidwell tossed in 12 points, while Brandon Johnson went for double-digits for the seventh time in eight games with 10 markers in the scorebook.
Also noteworthy, Jamie Yoder netted nine points on 3-of-5 shooting from the arc. That matched his career-high, while Evan Will also finished with nine points as well as a game-high nine rebounds.
Defensively, the Scots held an opponent to under 40 percent from the field (.386; 27-of-70) for the seventh time, but the first since Jan. 6. Wooster outrebounded the Terriers 49-32.
Emeka Mbanefo came off of the bench to pace Hiram with 14 points, most of which came from the 3-point arc (4-of-5).
This Saturday afternoon, it will be “Senior Day” at Timken Gymnasium as the Scots host fourth-place Wabash College (14-8, 8-5 NCAC). Prior to the 2 p.m. tip, there will be a pregame ceremony honoring Witucky and classmate Joe Agler.