Disruptive Wildcats rally in second half to win seventh consecutive game

CANTON, Mo. — Culver-Stockton College men’s basketball coach Aaron Hill understands the Wildcats’ need to embrace and enjoy their seven-game winning streak.

“Winning should be fun,” Hill said.

It can’t lead to a loss of focus or a lack of preparation.

“Each time, they’re ready to move on to the next one after a taste of victory,” Hill said.

The next one offers a chance for some separation from the 2013-14 team. Thursday night’s 74-66 victory over William Woods at Charles Field House improved the Wildcats to 7-0, matching the 2013-14 squad for the best start to a season in the last 15 years.

C-SC can eclipse the team that played in the NAIA national tournament for the best start next Tuesday when it travels to St. Louis to play the University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy. The Wildcats beats the Eutectics 74-60 on Nov. 3.

“The guys are doing a nice job of handling success and then having it motivate it for more of a taste of that the next time out,” Hill said.

They are also showing some fight and resiliency.

After getting outrebounded 17-6 in the first half and allowing the Owls to shoot 50 percent from the field and 63.2 percent from inside the arc, the Wildcats trailed 38-32 at halftime.

It took until the 11:51 mark of the second half before C-SC erased the lead, tying William Woods at 48 on an Alonzo Ortiz-Traylor 3-pointer. Three minutes later, the Wildcats took the lead for good at 56-53 when Ortiz-Traylor made a 3-pointer, was fouled and completed a four-point play.

Nick Spannus followed with a 3-pointer and a jumper to complete a 9-0 run and extend the lead to 61-53.

“I thought our defensive intensity picked up,” Hill said after the Wildcats limited the Owls to 35.5 percent shooting in the second half. “Our guards pressured them and did a really nice job defeating the ball screen and beating their offense down the floor. They’re really hard to guard when they get it in the post. They’re big and have multiple guys who can score it in there.

“We were pretty disruptive in the second half compared to the first half.”

The Wildcats shot 43.3 percent from the field in the second half and outrebounded the Owls 17-15. Ortiz-Traylor finished with 30 points, six rebounds, two assists and two blocks. He committed only one turnover as the Wildcats committed just 10 turnovers collectively.

“He’s really doing a nice job of carrying a heavy load,” Hill said. “He had one of those fun nights.”

Jalen Blaize added 14 points for the Wildcats.