HIRAM, Ohio - February 8, 2023 - The Terriers men's basketball team gave the No. 1 team in the NCAC all it could handle, but fell just short in the end of a 74-66 loss to Wooster on Wednesday at Price Gymnasium.
Hiram cut a 19-point deficit with 11:03 remaining in the game to just 4 points with 1:33 remaining. Kevin Beans Jr. capped off that rally with a basket to bring the score to 69-65.
Wooster would rattle off 4 straight points on free throws to regain an 8-point advantage and eventually hold on for the victory. The Fighting Scots are now 12-2 in NCAC play and 18-4 overall, both of which are the best in the conference.
For the Terriers, the game spells a third straight loss and tough end to its home schedule. Head coach Taylor Roth and company still have two road games remaining in the regular season before the conference tournament.
Brodgie Gordon and Trent Jakacki put on a show in the Hiram backcourt; Gordon scored a game-high 24 points and Jakacki had his first 20-point game since Jan. 4 against Ohio Wesleyan (career-high 30 points). Beans also filled the stat sheet for 8 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals.
Neither team led by more than 6 points for the entire first half, with Hiram leading by as many as 5 points and Wooster leading by as many as 6. The Fighting Scots finished the half on a 14-5 run to take a 35-31 advantage heading into the intermission.
Wooster would gain separation in the middle stages of the second half to gain that 19-point lead, which was punctuated by a steal from Jamir Billings and transition basket from Nick Everett. The Terriers would call time out.
The 30-second timeout proved to be beneficial, as Hiram outscored Wooster 26-15 over the final 10:18 of the game. Gordon and Jakacki continued to trade baskets, while the defense swarmed the Fighting Scots to hold them to a 36% FG pct in the second half.
Wooster would finish with its 9th single-digit win of the campaign.
Hiram has completed its home schedule and will now look to its final two road games of the regular season, beginning with a trip to Crawfordsville, Indiana on Saturday at 2 p.m. against Wabash.
