WOOSTER, Ohio - Scott Masin (New Carlisle, Ohio/Bethel) recorded his 10th double-double of the 2013-14 season, but it wasn't enough as the Wittenberg Tigers dropped a 60-55 decision to the College of Wooster.
The win gave the Scots a sweep of the season series with the Tigers and clinched a second straight North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) regular season title for Wooster. The second-ranked Scots improved to 20-3 overall and 14-2 in the NCAC with two regular season games remaining, while Wittenberg lost its second straight game and fell to 17-6 overall and 11-5 in the league.
Ranked 15th in the latest d3hoops.com poll, Wittenberg is now tied for third place in the NCAC with DePauw, one game behind Ohio Wesleyan three back of Wooster. The Tigers will close the regular season with a home game against Kenyon on Wednesday, Feb. 19, and a road date at Hiram on Saturday, Feb. 22.
Masin did the job in the paint for the Tigers, tallying 19 points to go along with 10 rebounds, including five at the offensive end. The senior post made 7-of-11 shots from the field and 5-of-7 from the free throw line in 22 minutes of action. He now has 961 points for his career.
Over the game's first 20 minutes, the two teams traded the lead back and forth repeatedly. By halftime, Wooster held a 30-27 advantage after the 10th lead change. It turned out to be the last one of the game.
The Scots expanded the lead to as many as 10 points midway through the second half and then held off a late Wittenberg challenge. After freshman Shane Edwards (Perrysburg, Ohio/Perrysburg) made a lay-up with 33 seconds left and Wooster missed a free throw, Masin was fouled going for an offensive rebound. He made the first free throw to draw the Tigers to within two points but missed the second shot.
The smallest player on the floor, senior guard Justin McDowell (Gahanna, Ohio/Lincoln) grabbed the rebound, however, and senior Zack Leahy (Rossford, Ohio/Rossford) got a good look at a three-pointer that would have tied things up. The shot came up short, and Wooster put the game out of reach with two free throws with eight seconds left.
Leahy finished with 10 points, while McDowell contributed eight points and two steals off the bench. Edwards and junior Sam Collins (Cleveland Heights, Ohio/Cleveland Heights) added seven points apiece, in addition to eight and seven rebounds, respectively.
Wittenberg shot 32.7 percent from the field, including a 5-of-26 showing from three-point range. Wooster's offense wasn't much more effective as the Scots made 34 percent of their shots.