WOOSTER, Ohio – The College of Wooster led the entire second half of its game with archrival Wittenberg University, but the outcome came down to the final seconds once again as a potential tying 3-pointer by the No. 15 ranked Tigers was off the mark, then the No. 9 Fighting Scots secured the rebound, a 60-55 win after a couple of free throws, and another North Coast Athletic Conference championship at Timken Gymnasium.

Wooster (20-3, 14-2 NCAC) has clinched at least a share of the conference title, holding a two-game lead in the standings over Ohio Wesleyan University with two regular season games remaining. The Scots have now won nine NCAC championships the last 10 years and a league-leading 16 overall.

Wittenberg (17-6, 11-5 NCAC) trimmed a 58-52 deficit with :50 left to 58-55 at the :13 mark, when Scott Masin missed the second of two free throws and teammate Justin McDowell skied for the rebound. McDowell kicked it out to Zack Leahy at the top of the key for an open look at a 3-pointer, however, it bounced off the rim and Wooster's Kenny DeBoer pulled down the rebound.

DeBoer sunk both of the ensuing free throws with :08 remaining to seal the outcome.

The opening 20 minutes was a typical back-and-forth affair, as there were seven ties and 10 lead changes between the two rivals. The Scots scored the last five points of the half – a Scott Purcell 3-pointer and a Xavier Brown put-back at the buzzer – to take a 30-27 advantage.

Wooster steadily increased its lead during the second half, pushing it to double figures for the first time (45-35) by sinking 4-of-4 free throws during a possession that included a Tigers' technical foul.

After Wittenberg responded, pulling within six (46-40), the Scots' backcourt of Brown and Doug Thorpe hit 3-pointers on back-to-back possessions to make it 52-40.

Xavier Brown helps Wooster maintain possession late in the second half, securing a loose ball on the floor and calling timeout during the Scots' eventual 60-55 win.

Wooster did not make a field goal during the last seven minutes, which allowed the Tigers to stay within striking distance, but the Scots did shoot 6-of-7 from the free throw line down the stretch to help clinch their fifth consecutive win over their rival. That's the longest such winning streak in the teams' series since Wittenberg joined the conference in 1989-90.

The Scots were slightly better in most every statistical category, 34.0 percent shooting from the field (18-for-53) to 32.7 percent (17-for-52), 35.0 percent on 3-pointers (7-for-20) to 19.2 percent (5-for-26), 73.9 percent at the free throw line (17-for-23) to 66.7 percent (16-for-24), and 10 turnovers to 12.

Brown paced Wooster with 19 points and six rebounds, while Purcell excelled by making all three of his 3-point attempts as part of an 11-point, four-rebound, two-assist night.

Masin produced a double-double of 19 points and 10 rebounds, and Leahy went for 10 points in the setback.

The Scots can win the NCAC championship outright on Wednesday night when they'll be at Allegheny College (5-18, 2-14 NCAC).