The College of Wooster, No. 13 in the latest D3hoops.com top-25 poll, survived a buzzer-beating 3-point attempt by Marietta College to win 59-57 Saturday night as the 50th annual E.M. "Mose" Hole/Kiwanis Classic concluded at Timken Gymnasium.
Wooster (10-2) saw its 59-50 lead decrease to a two-point margin during the final 2:29, which included the Fighting Scots missing the front end of two separate one-and-one opportunities at the free throw line.
The first time Marietta (8-3) had the chance to take the lead late, Wooster's defense prevented any good looks as the visitors settled for a long jumper just inside the top of the key that was rebounded by Doug Thorpe with 6.5 seconds to play.
Following the ensuing miss at the foul line, the Pioneers' Jacob Owens rebounded and rushed up the left side of the court, where he tried a well-defended 3-pointer from the wing that hit hard off the glass and then off the rim as the horn sounded.
It did not appear that the Scots would have to sweat out the final moments, as they quickly extended a 34-23 halftime lead to 16 points (39-23) early in the second.
Wooster continued to lead by double figures until a Brennan McKean 3-pointer brought Marietta within 45-38 at the midway point of the half. The Scots answered with a Josh Claytor put-back off an offensive rebound, and following an extended scoreless stretch, with two free throws by Evan Pannell to make it 49-38 at the 7:58 mark.
The two teams then went back-and-forth with the margin staying between 7-to-12 points before the Pioneers' final push that was keyed by old-fashioned three-point plays from J.J. Martin and Tyler Worstell.
Both defenses performed well, as Wooster shot 39.3 percent from the field (22-for-56) and Marietta 35.5 percent (22-for-62). The Scots gained a slight edge in rebounding, 43-40.
Jake Mays earned tournament MVP honors after tallying nine points, 11 rebounds, and three blocks against the Pioneers to boost his two-day totals to 20, 32, and eight, respectively.
Xavier Brown, who defended Owens on the last-second shot, and Thorpe contributed 10 points apiece en route to spots on the all-tourney team, while Pannell led the way Saturday with 12 points.
Also of note for Wooster, Kenny DeBoer gathered nine rebounds during 31 quality minutes of action.
For Marietta, Martin had 12 points and was selected as the defensive MVP.
Earlier in the day, John Carroll University trounced Geneva College 119-89, and rounding out the all-tournament team wereRyan Farragher and Danny Wallack of John Carroll and Scott Kimmey of Marietta.
The Scots return to action when they take a trip to the Toronto area where they will play Sheridan College in an exhibition on Friday, Jan. 4, at 8 p.m.