The College of Wooster men's basketball team was within one three different times late in the second half, but the Fighting Scots ultimately could not overcome Wittenberg University's 19-3 second-half run, which led the Tigers to an 86-75 win on Saturday night at Timken Gymnasium.

Wooster led by 11 with 9:49 left in the first half, as the Scots overcame a 6-0 deficit with a 24-7 run. Junior Quincy Jones' floater gave Wooster its first lead of the night at 7-6   and the forward scored the team's first nine points. Jones' final points of the stretch kicked off Wooster's 12-0 spurt that ended with a 3-pointer from sophomore Breckman Oakley that made it 19-8 with 12:22 left in the opening half. During the run, Oakley took the ball from Noah Frayer and led senior Isaac Roeder to the rim for a fastbreak layup that turned into an old-fashion three-point play. Senior Jaiden Cox-Holloway rejected a Fayer 3-pointer and Roeder took the ball again from Frayer later in the stretch.

Cox-Holloway's 3-pointer upped Wooster's lead to 24-13, but just as typically happens when Div. III's two winningest teams tangle on the hardwood, the lead was right back to a few points within minutes. Free throws by the Tigers' Sam Miller closed Wittenberg within 24-22 with 7:28 before halftime. Wooster was poised to take a 40-35 lead into the break when Holloway nailed another 3-pointer, but Jace Wardlow banked in a triple just before the buzzer.

Wardlow's 3-pointer started Wittenberg's 19-3 run. The Tigers opened the second half 6-of-7 from the floor to take a 54-43 lead. Wittenberg's lead twice reached 13 before it was Wooster's turn to quickly get back into the game. Senior EJ Kapihe's floater started an 8-0 Wooster stretch that had the Scots within 60-55 at 10:43.

Later, Cox-Holloway found Kapihe in stride for a layup to pull Wooster with 65-60. A Kapihe steal led to first-year Tommy Vaughn Jr. getting fouled in the backcourt. With Wooster already in the double bonus, the Scots got within three at the line.

Oakley's 3-pointer with 7:12 to go, Oakley's stick-back layup at 6:10, and Jones' putback with 5:30 left all had Wooster within one. However, Wooster was unable to convert in the scoring column following Roeder drawing an offensive foul, which fouled out Tyler Galluch.

The final momentum shifter came with 2:25 remaining, as Frayer was left open in the corner for a 3-pointer coming out of a timeout. His fifth triple of the game upped the Tigers' lead to 76-69. Wooster made just two field goals the rest of the game.

Jones led five Scots in double figures with 17 points on 6-of-10 shooting. His eight rebounds were one behind Roeder, who finished a rebound shy of a double-double. Cox-Holloway scored 16 points to go with eight rebounds. Oakley was a perfect 4-of-4 from the floor en route to a 13-point night and Kapihe went 5-of-6 as part of a 12-point performance. Oakley and Cox-Holloway combined for five blocked shots.

Wooster shot 48.1 percent (25-of-52) for the game. The Scots had 16 turnovers to the Tigers' seven.

Frayer torched Wooster with 31 points and three steals. He was 10-of-14 from the floor, 5-of-7 from deep, and a perfect 6-of-6 at the line.

Wittenberg went 26-of-59 from the floor for a 44.1 percent shooting night.

Wooster's lead in the all-time series is now 70-63, and Wittenberg is on its first three-game series winning streak since 2004.

Wittenberg is now 14-5, 7-3 North Coast Athletic Conference. Wooster is 6-14, 3-8 NCAC.

Next, Wooster is at Kenyon College (10-10, 4-7 NCAC) at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 4.