The College of Wooster scored 13 unanswered points late in the first half and began the second with a nine-point run, keying a 72-55 triumph over William Carey University Saturday in Daytona Beach, Fla., part of Embry-Riddle University's Bahama House/Best Western Aku Tiki Shootout.
Wooster (12-0), the No. 1 ranked team in NCAA Div. III, and William Carey (8-5), in the "others receiving votes" category of the latest NAIA Div. I ratings, swapped the lead a handful of times over the opening 13 minutes, but the Fighting Scots took control the final seven of the half.
Trailing 22-20, the backcourt duo of Nathan Balch and Ian Franks combined for the game's next nine points, with Balch starting the stretch by making 4-of-5 free throws. Franks then penetrated for a lay-up and assisted on a Balch 3-pointer. Franks also went on to assist a Bryan Wickliffe lay-in and then Wickliffe completed the 13-point stretch with a couple of free throws, adding up to a double-digit lead of 33-22.
It was 36-28 at the half and Wooster started the second 20 minutes with 3-pointers on three of its first six possessions, courtesy of Balch, Justin Hallowell, and Hallowell again, all while holding the Crusaders scoreless for more than five minutes.
The Scots would continue to hold a comfortable margin the rest of the way, including as much as 20 points (61-41).
One of the keys to the win was once again rebounding, as Wooster held a plus-13 margin in that category, right around its season average coming into the weekend (+12.4). Another difference was the Scots' 3-point shooting as they hit 11-of-26 (.423), compared to 5-of-19 (.263) for William Carey.
Balch paced a very balanced Wooster attack with 13 points, which included 3-of-5 3-pointers, and Hallowell and Wickliffe chipped in 11 apiece. Wickliffe grabbed a game-high nine boards for the second consecutive game, and also of note, Matt Fegan and Franks each passed out six assists.
The Scots will be right back in action in less than 24 hours, as they'll take on Baruch College at 2 p.m., Sunday.