MBB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[wooscotsfan]

Two more NCAC Scores:

Kenyon 94  Case Western Reserve 85  OT
Bryan Yelvington led the Lords (7-4, 1-1 NCAC) with 29 points and here is the game story link: http://athletics.kenyon.edu/x28463.xml

Wittenberg 68  Oberlin 49
Kevin Murray led the Tigers with 25 points.  Witt is now 5-6, 2-1 NCAC and here is the link to the game story: http://www4.wittenberg.edu/news/athletics/mbasketball/gamestories/08-09gamestories/oberlin.html

[David Collinge]

Despite the fact that Case Western couldn't miss from outside the arc (or so it seemed; 56.5% on the evening), the overtime at Kenyon was only made necessary by KC's horrendous free throw shooting...nine for twenty-one during regulation.  They had to go 10 of 12 in the OT just to bring their total for the game to a disreputable 57.6%.  Those planning to attend Wednesday's Wooster/Kenyon showdown may want to bring air sickness bags with them.  Other than that, Kenyon played a pretty good game, with 51% shooting, 22 assists on 31 hoops, just nine turnovers, and stalwart defense inside the arc, where Case was just 16 of 36 (44%) and had four shots blocked. 

[David Collinge]

On the strength of his MVP performance at the Mose Hole Classic, Wooster frosh Justin Hallowell today was named the NCAC Player of the Week.  Hallowell scored 28 points in the two games, shooting 9 for 16 overall and 7 of 13 from behind (often well behind) the arc.  Congratulations, Justin!

Hiram (3-0, 8-4) and Wooster (2-0, 7-4) share the lead in the North Coast Athletic Conference after the Terriers won twice in conference play last weekend. The Terriers meet fifth-place (tie) Ohio Wesleyan (1-1, 5-5) Saturday for their only action in the coming week. Last week, Wooster won twice in non-conferencee play to claim the title at the Mose Hole Kiwanis Classic and has won five of its past six games. The Fighting Scots' only game this week is a Saturday road contest at seventh-place (tie) Wabash (1-2, 6-5).

Other games on Saturday in a light week of conference competition are Allegheny (2-1, 6-5) at Wittenberg (2-1, 5-6), Kenyon (1-1, 7-4) at Earlham (1-2, 1-10) and Oberlin (0-3, 2-8) at Denison (0-2, 3-7). Link.

It's only light if you think the week begins on, say, Thursday, like the conference office evidently does.  Denison lost at Bethany tonight 71-64, and Earlham heads to Anderson tomorrow.  On Wednesday, Wooster plays at Kenyon, OWU travels to Denison, Allegheny hosts Penn St.-Behrend, and Oberlin welcomes Case Western Reserve on Wednesday. 

[David Collinge]

Anderson 71, Earlham 64...Anderson is now 10-3, and two of those three losses were by two points to Wash. U. and UW-Platteville, both former #1s this season.  They also beat Elmhurst by six on Saturday.  A seven-point loss to the Ravens is not a bad loss by any means.  Earlham shot 44% and won the battle of the boards 37-29.  Tristian Gregory (who else?) had 18 to lead the Quakers, who got scoring production from all 10 players who saw action.

[ScotsFan]

Looks like Wooster will be catching somewhat of a break for this week's challenging road trip.  With roadies at Kenyon on Wednesday and at Wabash on Saturday, it looks as though classes won't be back in session at either school meaning no student sections...  8) 

This will especially come in handy with the game at Wabash as Chadwick has become a tough venue for the Scots to escape with wins of late.  And a lot of that has to do with the Wabash students making things tough on the visiting Scots.

I also noticed that Wooster hasn't done especially well away from the friendly confines of Timken this season as they are only 1-2 in 'true' road games.  Granted, one of those losses was 5,000 miles away in tropical Hawaii to a non-DIII opponent, but it would be nice to see Wooster start to improve on their away record starting this week.

[wally_wabash]

It's hard to say how many students will make it back for Saturday's game.  Classes don't resume until 1/14, but many seniors should probably be on campus preparing for written comprehensives.  I can't think of a better study break than strolling down to Chadwick for some potential history.  Not only might Saturday be the first win over Wooster at Chadwick, but a Little Giant win would push Mac Petty to the career victory #500 milestone.  I couldn't think of a better way to hit a milestone than beating the league favorites in front of your own home crowd. 

[David Collinge]

Kenyon is also on break until 1/12, which should reduce the crowd by at least a couple dozen. 

[wooscotsfan]

At the Half:  Wooster 35  Kenyon 35

Wooster is being led by Justin Hallowell with 9 points and Nathan Balch with 7 points.  Kenyon's leading scorers are JT Knight with 9 points and Bryan Yelvington with 8 points.

Wooster had a 9 point lead during the half but the Lords rallied and finished the half on a 11-2 run to even the score up.

[wooscotsfan]

Final:  Wooster 74  Kenyon 64

Nice road win for Wooster as they beat the Lords in their only scheduled game of the season.

Wooster was led in scoring by Nathan Balch with 16 points (9 boards), Ian Franks with 14 points, Justin Hallowell with 13 points (7 boards), Bryan Wickliffe with 9 points and Greg Ross chipped in 8 points.

Kenyon's leading scorer Bryan Yelvington was in foul trouble much of the 2nd half and only scored 11 points.  Marty Bidwell's defense on Yelvington was noted by Coach Moore in his post game remarks.  Leading the Lords in scoring was Dave Knapke with 15 points.  JT Knight added 12 points and Allen Bediako chipped in 10 points.

Wooster won this game by shooting 49% from the floor compared to only 43% for the Lords.  The key juncture in this game was the beginning of the 2nd half when the Scots opened with a 15-5 run that resulted in a 10 point lead (50-40) that the Lords could not overcome.  Kenyon on the season drops to 7-5, 1-2 in the NCAC.

Wooster is now 8-4, NCAC 3-0     Next game is at Wabash on Saturday.

[wooscotsfan]

Final:  Ohio Wesleyan 85  Denison 60
Good road win for the Bishops as they improve to 6-5, 2-1 NCAC.  Kyle Miller led OWU with 17 points (5 three pointers) and here is a link to the boxscore: http://www.denison.edu/athletics/mens/basketball/0809/denm0107.html

Final:  Oberlin 75  Case Western Reserve 62
What OWU could not accomplish, the Yeomen did with a win over the Spartans!  Mike Loll led Oberlin with 22 points and 11 boards.  Oberlin is now 3-8, 0-3 NCAC.

Final:  Penn St. Behrend 69  Allegheny 52
This game was over at halftime as the Lions had a 21 point lead (37-16).  Top scorer George Raftis apparently did not dress for the Gators as he is not listed in the boxscore.  Ryan Hollihan led Allegheny with 27 points.  Gators are now 6-6, 2-1 NCAC.

[ScotsFan]

Nice way to start the week for the Scots with a solid road win in Gambier last night!  That was Kenyon's first loss at Tomsich of the season as they were 4-0 at home prior to last night.

I wasn't all that surprised that the Scots struggled shooting from beyond the arc.  That gym doesn't seem like it would be an easy place to shoot with the glass behind the one basket especially when you only get to play there once every other year.  And Bidwell would have been the only Scot with previous experience in Tomsich.  I really think this was a factor in the Scots' struggles from deep, especially in the first half.  Wooster was only 3-12 in the first half.  And they pretty much abandoned the deep ball in the second half putting up only three attempts.  But they made 2 of those 3 attempts.  8)

Also, when you factor in that Yelvington and Bediako were battling foul trouble, it would only make sense for Wooster to take advantage and work the ball inside.

One stat that surprised me was rebounding.  Listening to the game, I thought for sure that Kenyon was going to have an advantage in that category.  Especially on the offensive end.  The Lords were hitting the offensive boards HARD, especially in the 2nd half!  But they only ended up with a 13-11 advantage on the offensive glass and overall, the rebounds were even at 32 apiece.

Lastly, Wooster had another nice game in keeping the turnovers down.  This is Wooster's 3rd straight game with 12 or fewer turnovers after going back to back games with 20+ turnovers.  That's more like it!

If Wooster can get a win in C'ville on Saturday, that would be a big hurdle passed on their way to claiming a 5th straight NCAC title!

[woosterbooster]

It was one of those games in which both teams had a lot of good close-in shots just trickle out.  Had more of Wooster's dropped, the Scots win easier.  Had more of Kenyon's dropped - but not Wooster's - this game might still be going on.

I thought Wooster, for the most part, did a very good job on their defensive board.  Most of Kenyon's offensive rebounds came on two or three plays wherein they grabbed three or four in a bunch.

Hey! Bidwell!   Shoot the ball!  You hit a three early, but then passed up some other open looks from the perimeter.  You've got a good shot, don't be THAT unselfish.  Your old man woulda taken those shots!

The drive down to Kenyon was a trip and a half.  Not bad until Loudonville, but then it went steadily downhill.  For about a ten-mile stretch, it was really difficult to see the center median on the road, which is not a good thing.  Luckily, coming home, the plows had been out, and I had a tank driven by Cliff Johnson to blaze the way.  Thanks, Cliff!

[ScotsFan]

Final:  Oberlin 75  Case Western Reserve 62
What OWU could not accomplish, the Yeomen did with a win over the Spartans!  Mike Loll led Oberlin with 22 points and 11 boards.  Oberlin is now 3-8, 0-3 NCAC.

So, Case found a way to beat OWU, but they can't beat lowly Oberlin?  Go figure... 

[TheDoggies]

Don't count your titles yet, there are a lot of big hurdles left for all teams in the conference. Its a marathon race, not the 100m hurdles.

Hopefully both Wooster and Hiram can get it done on Saturday, which would set up a nice meeting of similar conference and overall records with similar teams. Young (people seems to forget/not notice that Hiram is made up of one senior, one junior and the rest freshmen and sophomores), Run and Gun, lots of athletes on the floor, and a lot of scoring (Top 2 scoring teams in the conference).

[ScotsFan]

Don't count your titles yet, there are a lot of big hurdles left for all teams in the conference. Its a marathon race, not the 100m hurdles.

Hardly counting titles yet doggie... 

The reason I said what I said was because, with a win at Wabash on Saturday, Wooster will have cleared two BIG hurdles on their way to their goal of a conference championship. 

Holding serve at home is only half the battle to winning conference championships.  Winning on the ROAD is where championships are won.