WOOSTER, Ohio (Jan. 22) – The No. 16-ranked Denison University men's basketball team extended their winning streak and remained undefeated in North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) play with a 77-65 victory over Wooster inside Timken Gymnasium. Denison improved to 16-1 overall and a perfect 8-0 in NCAC play, maintaining their position atop the conference standings. Senior Darren Rubin scored his 1,000th career point as an added bonus to the victory over the Scots.
Wooster, who earlier this season was ranked as high as No. 6 nationally, dropped out of the rankings following recent struggles and fell to 13-4 overall and 5-3 in the NCAC.
Trailing 37-35 at halftime, the Big Red outscored the Scots 42-28 in the second half, fueled by a combination of aggressive defense and timely offensive execution. Trevor Reed led the charge for Denison, finishing with 20 points on 6-of-9 shooting and 7-for-12 from the free-throw line. Reed also contributed four rebounds, two steals, and one block in a commanding two-way performance.
Ricky Radtke added 12 points and a team-high seven rebounds, while Tyler Miller provided a spark off the bench with 11 points, including a key three-pointer that pushed the lead to double digits late in the second half.
Wooster's Jaiden Cox-Holloway paced the Scots with 22 points and eight rebounds, while Nick Everett tallied 21 points and seven boards. However, the Scots were plagued by turnovers, committing 19 on the night, which Denison converted into 20 points.The Big Red's depth proved crucial, as Denison's bench outscored Wooster's reserves 21-7.
Senior Darren Rubin earned his spot in the 1,000-point club, making him the second this season for the Big Red to earn the honor. After missing his junior year due to injury and taking a redshirt season, Rubin worked his way back to the court and reached an impressive milestone during the contest. Rubin finished the night with nine points and three assists, adding another solid performance to his career.
Denison's win cements their spot as the team to beat in the NCAC. Next up, the Big Red will travel to Oberlin for a 7:00 p.m. matchup on Wednesday, January 29, as they aim to keep their perfect conference record intact.
