Box score (pdf)

DAVIDSON, N.C. - Taylor Wagener recorded a new career high but it was not enough as the Wofford men’s basketball team (4-6, 0-1) was defeated by the Davidson Wildcats (5-4, 2-0) 63-56 in the team’s SoCon opener.  Wagener led the Terriers with 14 points while Nik Cochran led all scorers with 15 for the Wildcats.

“My teammates set me up really well tonight with good screens and we stepped up the intensity to another level,” said Wagener. “We matured a lot tonight even though we are a really young team.  We came out stagnate and they hit shots early, but we were able to battle back.  It speaks wonders for our team how we were able to cut the lead from 20 points down to [three] points.” 

Following Wagener for the Terriers was Indiana Faithful, who added 10 points and five assists.  Wofford’s bench outscored Davidson’s 32 to 16 for the game.

Nik Cochran added ten rebounds to go along with his 15 points to earn a double-double for the Wildcats.  Tyler Kalinoski chipped in 11 points for Davidson.

“We got off to a tough start but battled back,” said head coach Mike Young.  “I think we learned a little more about our team, and I am excited about what lies ahead.  We figure somethings out tonight on how hard you have to play and prepare in this league.”

Davidson jumped out to a quick 6-0 lead after three pointers by Nik Cochran and Chris Czerapowicz.  John Swinton got the Terriers on the board with a long two, but the Wildcats extended their lead to ten after two threes by Tyler Kalinoski with 15:24 to play.  

Davidson’s hot shooting continued as they opened a 21-4 advantage behind 6-6 shooting from behind the arc.  The teams traded baskets and with 9:00 to play and the Wildcats still lead by 17 points.

At the 6:00 mark, Davidson pushed the lead to 27-7 after a strong finish by Jake Cohen in the paint.  Spencer Collins hit the first three of the game for Wofford, but on the next possession Nik Cochran beat everyone down to court to score an easy layup to keep the Wildcat lead 29-10.

Davidson opened their largest lead of the half, 21, after two free throws by Cohen with 3:36 to play.  However, the Terriers responded with a 12-0 run to end the first half to cut the Wildcat lead to 31-22.  The run was highlighted by Jarell Byrd’s two pull-up jumpers and Taylor Wagener’s two made threes.

At the break, Kalinoski led all scorers with nine while Byrd and Wagener each added six for Wofford.  After starting 6-of-6 from behind the arch Davidson would miss their next five attempts but still finish the half shooting 55 percent, 6-of-11, from three.  

Overall the Wildcats were 40 percent from the floor and the Terriers were 35 percent.  Each team had six turnovers, but Wofford was called for eight fouls to Davidson’s five.

Faithful continued Wofford’s run in the second half with a left-handed layup high off the glass to bring the score to 31-24.  The Wildcats picked up right were they left off making two quick baskets to push the lead back to double digits at 36-24 with 18:59 left.

The Terriers cut the lead back to eight after jump shots by Collins and Lee Skinner.  Both teams traded a pair of free throws to make the score 38-30 at the 15:59 mark.  

Over the next 3:20, Davidson scored seven straight to push its lead to 45-30 capped off by an old fashioned three-point play by De’Mon Brooks.  The teams again traded baskets to make the score 47-33 with 11:16 left to play.  

After a technical foul on Davidson’s Clint Mann, Swinton sank two free throws to bring Wofford within 12 points.  Then, Wagener drained his third and fourth threes of the game to cut the Wildcat advantage to 47-41.

Nik Cochran extended Davidson’s lead back to ten points, 51-41 after a made layup and two free throws.  The Terriers responded with a 9-2 run highlighted by a fast break dunk by Collins and a three pointer by Karl Cochran to cut the Davidson lead to 53-50.

Cohen scored back-to-back buckets for the Wildcats to push their lead to 57-50 with 3:29 to play.  Karl Cochran responded for Wofford with a bank shot off the glass to bring the Terriers within five with 2:19 to play.

However, Davidson scored the next five points to take a 62-52 lead with 21 seconds left in the game.  Faithful scored four quick points for Wofford, but the Terriers couldn’t rally back in the final seconds as Davidson hung on for the 63-56 win.

For the game, the Terriers shot 36 percent from the floor, 33 percent from behind the arc, and 9-of-13 from the free throw line.  Davidson shot 41 percent from the floor, 35 percent on three pointers, and 16-of-20 from the charity stripe.

Wofford returns to play at Jacksonville on December 18 at 7:15 p.m.