WOOSTER, Ohio – A late 9-1 run by The College of Wooster after the game had been tied at 61 was the difference, as the top-seeded Fighting Scots defeated fifth-seeded Wittenberg University 78-66 in the North Coast Athletic Conference Tournament semifinals Friday night at Timken Gymnasium to earn a three-game season sweep of their archrival and reach the championship game for the 16th time in the last 17 years.

Wooster (23-4) will host the No. 2 seed, Ohio Wesleyan University (21-5), a 77-64 victor over third-seeded Kenyon College earlier in the evening, in the finals Saturday at 7 p.m.

Evan Pannell scored a career-high 21 points, including a pair of free throws at the 4:57 mark that gave the Scots a lead, 63-61, they would not relinquish. After a defensive stop, Pannell dished the ball inside to Jake Mays for a short jumper, making it a two-possession game (65-61) for just the second time during the second half.

Following a timeout, Wittenberg (17-10) misfired on three shots before Mays collected the rebound and threw an outlet pass to Pannell, who finished the transition opportunity for a 67-61 lead.

After the Tigers split a pair of free throws on the ensuing possession, Alex LaLone knocked down an open 3-pointer from the right side, increasing Wooster's cushion to eight (70-62).

Wittenberg would cut the margin to six a couple more times, including 72-66 with :54 on the clock. The Scots then committed what could have been a costly turnover, but they recovered for a defensive stop that was rebounded by Mays, who was fouled with :33 remaining. Mays dropped in both free throws for a 74-66 margin and Wooster would tack on four more from the charity stripe for the final margin.

The Scots overcame a red-hot start offensively by the Tigers, as the visitors made 10 of their opening 11 shots from the field, including 5-of-6 3-pointers. Wooster stayed close, though, as Wittenberg's largest lead was seven on three occasions, including 32-25.

Then, the Scots took the momentum via an 11-0 run, featuring a four-point play by Doug Thorpe. Wooster remained ahead the last three minutes of the first half, including 40-37 at the break.

The two rivals went back-and-forth throughout the first 15 minutes of the second half before the Scots turned it on late.

After Wittenberg's torrid start, the Tigers made just 12-of-38 (.316) the rest of the game to finish with a 44.9 field-goal percentage, while Wooster had a similar rate of .439 (25-for-57). Both teams shot well from the free throw line, the Scots' 21-of-24 (.875) and Wittenberg 14-of-16 (.875), while the significant statistical difference was Wooster's four turnovers, compared to 11 giveaways by the Tigers.

Pannell's 21 was five points more than his previous career high and seven more than his season-high entering the game. Thorpe tallied 17 points and four assists.

While no other Scot player reached double figures, a number of others made key contributions. LaLonde, making his first collegiate start, hit two 3-pointers during the last six minutes and secured a team-leading eight rebounds. All of Mays's eight points and most of his six boards came over the final 10 minutes, while fellow post Josh Claytor matched him with eight points.

For the Tigers, Zack Leahy had 16 points, but just two coming after halftime, and Scott Masin produced a double-double of 14 points and 10 rebounds.

The winner of the Saturday's Ohio Wesleyan-Wooster tilt receives the conference's automatic berth into the NCAA Div. III Championship field.