Jan 19, 2011
WOOSTER, Ohio – The nation's top-ranked team extended its winning streak to 17 as Wooster used a suffocating defensive effort to skip by Allegheny, 88-56, on Wednesday at Timken Gymnasium. The Fighting Scots, who led from the opening tip, pulled away with an impressive performance from their bench.
Replicating the tremendous effort of Allegheny's (5-12, 2-7 NCAC) previous meeting with undefeated Wooster (17-0, 8-0) was going to be understandably more difficult at one of the most raucous environments in Division III, although the Gators outlook was substantially more grim on Wednesday as the team made the trip without the services of junior wing Donte Briscoe, who delivered one of the best games of his career in the first game. With nearly 2,000 fans prodding the Fighting Scots to a strong showing, the home unit showcased an outstanding defensive swagger that led to 15 steals and 26 points off turnovers.
All-American guard Ian Franks paced the Scots with 13 points, although the team relied on contributions from its entire lineup in extending the best start in school history. Matt Fegan (12) and Mike Evans (11) also reached double figures while Ryan Snyder added eight points, four assists, and four steals. The Gators did a decent job of keeping Wooster off balance in the half-court, but it was the six fast-break points, the 25-10 advantage on second-chance points, and the fact that Wooster managed 19 more shots than Allegheny that proved to be the difference.
The Gators did receive strong efforts from unfamiliar faces as rookie guard Kelonte Adams scored a career-high eight points in just three minutes of action. Sophomore Kyle Murphy drilled both of his outside shots to finish with six points while Sean Danaher and Marco Corona also etched their names into the score sheet. Junior forward James Ness led the Allegheny contingent with 13 points and eight boards.
Wooster scored the first 10 points of the game and led 27-7 with nine minutes left in the first half. Three consecutive baskets in the paint by freshman Bobby Theiss, Ness, and D'Andre Corbin, sliced into the deficit, although the Scots took a 43-25 lead into the halftime break.
Behind a bevy of forced turnovers, Wooster's high-octane attack continued to stretch its lead in the second stanza. The bench play, which totaled a staggering 47 points, was significant in keeping the Blue and Gold at bay. Adams and Danaher provided a spark for the visitors in the final minutes of regulation, but it wasn't enough to keep the Fighting Scots from their 25th consecutive win in the all-time series.