GRANVILLE, OH - The final is set for the 2025 NCAC Men's Basketball Tournament with No. 3 Wooster (21-6) and No. 1 Denison (23-3) to meet for the title on Saturday, March 1, at 4:00 p.m. at Denison’s Livingston Gymnasium in Granville, Ohio.
The Big Red will be playing in the championship game for the third time in program history and will be looking to capture their second title, first since 2016, while the Fighting Scots will be playing in the title game for the league-leading 31st time and are searching for their first title since 2020 and 18th overall crown.
#3 WOOSTER (21-6) 73, #2 WABASH (17-9) 57
- Wooster defeated Wabash 73-57 to advance to the NCAC Men's Basketball Tournament final game for the sixth-consecutive season.
- The game between Wooster and Wabash was tightly contested throughout, with the first half ending in a 33-33 tie. Both teams showcased balanced offensive efforts, with Wooster senior guard Jamir Billings (Lorain, OH/Lorain) contributing several key assists and junior guard Jaiden Cox-Holloway (Cleveland, OH/Richmond Heights) hitting a couple of important three-pointers. Wabash responded with strong performances from senior guard Vinny Buccilla (Fishers, IN/Hamilton Southeastern) and junior guard Josh Whack (Indianapolis, IN/Carmel), who made impactful plays in the paint.
- In the second half, Wooster quickly gained momentum, capitalizing on fast-break opportunities and timely shooting from beyond the arc. Cox-Holloway hit another key three-pointer, and senior guard Ashton Price’s (Bay Village, OH/Bay) scoring in transition further extended Wooster’s lead. Despite late-game efforts from Wabash, including a couple of three-pointers from Buccilla and a dunk from senior post Noah Hupmann (Sunset, SC/Covington Catholic), the Fighting Scots’ defense and efficient free-throw shooting in the final minutes helped secure a 73-57 victory.
- Wooster was led by Billings, who scored 18 points, knocking down 8-of-17 attempts, while dishing out eight assists and grabbing four steals in the win. Price finished the game with 14 points on 6-of-8 shooting, one assist, and two steals, while Cox-Holloway collected 13 points, five rebounds, two assists, one block, and two steals. Senior guard JJ Cline (Wooster, OH/Northwestern) also reached double-digit scoring (10) after a perfect outing at the charity stripe (6-of-6).
- Buccilla led all scorers with 19 points, shooting 6-for-17 from the floor, 3-of-9 from deep, and 4-of-6 at the line, along with three rebounds and assists. Also reaching double-digit points for the Little Giants was Whack (13) and junior guard Rich Brooks (South Bend, IN/Mishawaka Marian) (11). Hupmann recorded a game-high 13 rebounds, pulling down five offensive and eight defensive boards. The Sunset, South Carolina native also tallied three points, three blocks, and two assists in the game.
- Wooster had the upper hand in several areas, including points off turnovers (21-to-13), second-chance points (12-to-5), bench points (18-to-11), and fast break points (12-to-7), which allowed the Scots to gain an advantage, especially in transition and bench play. However, Wabash excelled in points in the paint, outscoring Wooster 30-to-24 with a strong presence inside.
#1 DENISON (23-3) 74, #4 OHIO WESLEYAN (15-12) 70
- Denison defeated Ohio Wesleyan 74-70 to advance to the NCAC Men's Basketball Tournament final game for the first time since winning in 2016.
- The game between the Big Red and Battling Bishops was an intense back-and-forth contest that saw both teams battling for the lead throughout the first half. The Battling Bishops held a narrow 35-33 advantage at the break, thanks to key contributions from senior guard Henry Hinkle (Powell, OH/Olentangy Liberty) and fifth-year Tony Carter (Cleveland, OH/Parma Heights Holy Name). The Big Red stayed within striking distance, with senior guard Cameron Smith (Cleveland, OH/University School) and junior guard Tyler Miller (Hudson, OH/Hudson) providing steady offense to keep the game close. Both teams exchanged leads multiple times, setting up a thrilling second-half showdown.
- In the second half, Denison found a rhythm, led by Senior guard Darren Rubin’s (Dayton, OH/Oakwood) clutch scoring. With several key free throws and baskets in the paint, the Big Red slowly built a lead that OWU would need to overcome. While Hinkle and Carter made late-game pushes to keep Ohio Wesleyan in it, Denison’s defense and efficient free-throw shooting down the stretch ultimately secured a 74-70 victory. Rubin’s performance in the final minutes was especially pivotal, helping the Big Red hold off the Bishop’s late surge and clinch the win.
- Smith scored a team-high 16 points while Rubin followed closely behind with 15. Smith finished the game with seven rebounds and sank 5-of-6 shots in both field goals and free throws. Rubin was a perfect 5-for-5 from the charity stripe while also grabbing four rebounds and dishing out one assist. Junior forward Aidan King (Westerville, OH/Olentangy Orange) also played a pivotal role, scoring 13 points and grabbing seven boards off the bench.
- For OWU, Henry Hinkle was the top performer, recording a game-high 27 points, including 8-for-19 from the floor and 7-for-7 from the line, and four assists, while Carter chipped in with 17 points and eight rebounds. Junior guard Isaac Ward (Circleville, OH/Logan Elm) contributed 12 points, five rebounds, and a game-high five assists.
- Denison had the upper hand in several areas, including points off turnovers (13-to-10), second-chance points (9-to-5), bench points (34-to-11), points in the paint (32-to-14), and fast break points (12-to-0).