WOOSTER, Ohio – The College of Wooster, ranked No. 9 in the preseason by D3hoops.com, strung together a 22-8 stretch early in the second half to break open its season opener and went on from there to a 91-67 triumph over Defiance College, the nightcap of the Al Van Wie/Rotary Classic Friday at Timken Gymnasium.
Wooster's fellow North Coast Athletic Conference member, Ohio Wesleyan University, gave the league another victory earlier in the evening, dispatching Anderson (Ind.) University 79-64.
Replacing three starters from a group that finished as the 2011 NCAA Div. III national runner-up, Wooster (1-0) stayed patient against Defiance (1-1), which used an aggressive, full-court style while frequently substituting.
Ahead 42-37 with 15:42 remaining in the second half, the Fighting Scots repeatedly beat the Yellow Jackets' trapping defense down floor for looks inside as 12 of the 22 points during that big run came inside the paint. Also of note, eight of Wooster's points that stretch were from Kenny DeBoer.
Defiance had one last run, trimming a 22-point deficit (71-49) to 12 a couple of times (71-59 and 73-61), but the Scots pulled back ahead comfortably with a game-clinching 8-2 run (81-63) en route to the 24-point decision.
During the opening half, neither squad led by more than seven points with Wooster ultimately taking a 35-30 advantage into the break.
Statistically, the biggest difference in the game was rebounding, in which the Scots battled for a 45-27 edge. Wooster also produced a .557 field-goal percentage (34-for-61) to the Yellow Jackets' rate of .386 (22-for-57).
Xavier Brown, in his collegiate debut, paced a very balanced attack for the Scots with 18 points. Backcourt mate Ryan Snyder came off the bench for 15, while Justin Hallowell went for 14 points and a game-high nine rebounds, despite playing limited minutes due to foul trouble.
Additionally, DeBoer, another newcomer, tossed in 11 points and Matt Fegan distributed six assists to lead all players in that category.
For Defiance, Mason Roth tallied 14 points.
In Friday's first game, Ohio Wesleyan fell behind 20-12, but outscored Anderson 27-9 the rest of the first half and never looked back during the second en route to a 15-point victory.
Tim Brady poured in 22 points and Andy Winters added an 18-point, six-assist effort for the Battling Bishops, while Jason Riley scored a team-high 15 points for the Ravens.
On Saturday night, the NCAC will attempt to pick up two more wins as Ohio Wesleyan takes on Defiance at 6 p.m., followed by Wooster and Anderson at 8 p.m.