WOOSTER, Ohio – In a wild and crazy game that featured several big swings, nationally-ranked No. 4 Wooster escaped a spectacular upset bid by Allegheny in the quarterfinals of the NCAC Tournament, 62-57. The Gators authored an improbable comeback and were in position to steal the win when the nation's winningest team of the last decade pieced together a comeback of its own to keep an automatic bid to the NCAA Championship Tournament in play.
Justin Hallowell canned two deep jumpers to spark a 6-0 start for the home squad. Several minutes later, the Gators (7-19) tied the game at nine as sophomore Devone McLeod buried a three followed by baskets from James Ness, Donte Briscoe, and Bobby Theiss. Dismissing Allegheny's initial rally, the Fighting Scots (24-2) asserted complete control of the game with a 17-0 run over the next 10 that put the advantage at 26-9. Wooster scored six straight field goals in the paint including three consecutive baskets by Jake Mays during the run.
Trailing 28-14 with 4:30 left in the half, the Gators orchestrated a spirited rally that slowly shifted the momentum to the heavy underdogs. In the final two minutes of the period, Allegheny reduced a 31-21 deficit to three following an outstanding series of plays. Ignited on a lay-up by Briscoe, freshman D'Andre Corbin ripped the ball from a Wooster player on the ensuing possession before finishing his own fast break. Senior Seth Eisner capped the quick turnaround with a deep three.
The second half started with the teams exchanging baskets, and although Allegheny would get as close as three, the Scots were in front, 43-37, with 13:50 on the clock. At that point, the Gators managed to manufacture their most dominant stretch of basketball all season while leaving the packed house at Timkin Gymnasium stunned. Allegheny used a 17-2 run to take a 54-45 lead with 6:37 left in regulation. Corbin scored eight points during the stretch while McLeod added six.
Unfortunately for the Blue and Gold, the Gators were unable to put the perennial national contenders away. Allegheny didn't connect on another field goal the rest of the way while going 0-for-8 from the floor with two turnovers in its last 10 possessions. Wooster's defensive stand set up its offense as All-American Ian Franks dropped in a three sandwiched between a pair of Bryan Wickliffe jumpers that pulled the Scots back within one (57-56). Following another Allegheny miss, Nathan Balch converted at the other end to put the home team back on top with two minutes left to play. Although McLeod had a chance to tie the game with six seconds remaining, his contested fade-away three from the left corner hit the front iron.
McLeod led all scorers with 21 points while Ness had 11 points and 10 rebounds en route to his sixth double-double of the year. Corbin seemed to mature as a player throughout the course of Tuesday's tilt, and he finished the night with 14 points, six rebounds, five assists, and four steals. Briscoe matched Ness' game-high production on the glass while adding three blocks and three steals. The Gators employed a short bench against Wooster while McLeod, Briscoe and Ness played nearly the entire game.
If anyone was looking for moral victories in Allegheny's tumultuous season, you wouldn't need to look far. Under the tutelage of first-year head coach Jim Driggs, the Gators steadily improved throughout the year while a young and inexperienced unit faced one of the stiffest schedules in Division III. Ness, who is a local Meadville, Pa. native, enjoyed an emphatic emergence as a post threat in Driggs' first season. Entering the season averaging 3.8 points per game over his career, Ness finished his junior year sixth in the NCAC in scoring at 16.2 ppg. His efficiency was remarkable as he closed the year ranked first in the league and 12th in the nation in field goal percentage (.620). Ness also finished fourth in the league in rebounds (7.0) and tied for fifth in blocked shots.
McLeod closed out the year ranked ninth in the NCAC in scoring (13.9) and sixth in assists, while Corbin was second in the conference in helpers (4.6). Boosted by his tremendous athleticism, Briscoe paced the conference in boards (8.3) and blocks (1.2), and was second in the league and 25th in the nation in steals (2.6).