Men's Basketball
Men's Basketball 2011 Game Highlights
11/12/2011 – Delaware State University
‘CATS UPENDED BY DELAWARE STATE, 86-65 IN MEN’S SEASON OPENER
DOVER, DE -- Despite having four players in double-digits in scoring, the Hornets of Delaware State University were just too much for the Wilmington University Wildcats to overcome, as the ‘Cats fell 86-65 in non-conference men’s basketball action on Saturday afternoon at Memorial Hall.
Both team shot 50 percent or better in the first half, but the Hornets had a 45-33 edge going into the break. Wilmington (0-1) made things a little closer in the second half, and were outscored by just nine, but Delaware State (1-0) continued to have the hot hand, connecting at almost 55 percent in the second stanza. That was just too much for the Wildcats to overcome, as they fell to the Division I Hornets by 21.
Wilmington was led by junior forward Brandon Fox, who netted a team-high 16 points and pulled down six rebounds. Sophomore guard Herb Dennis added 14, while senior guard Corye Payton chipped in with 11. Senior guard Matt King had 10 points and five rebounds for the ‘Cats.
Delaware State also featured four players in double-digits, led by Tahj Tate’s 23 points and six assists. Tyshawn Bell and Jay Threatt each netted a dozen, while Casey Walker added nine points and eight rebounds. Marquez Oliver posted 11 points, seven rebounds, and four blocks for the Hornets.
The hosts shot almost 57 percent for the game, including 40 percent (6-of-15) from behind the arc. Wilmington connected at almost 48 percent for the game, but struggled from long range (4-of-15). The Hornets held a slight-edge on the glass, out-rebounding the Wildcats by a 29-26 margin.
Wilmington returns to the court on Tuesday evening, when they travel to take on the Golden Bears of Kutztown University in a non-conference tilt beginning at 7:00 PM.
11/15/2011 – Kutztown University
WILMINGTON MEN EDGE KUTZTOWN, 75-74 FOR FIRST WIN OF SEASON
KUTZTOWN, PA -- The Wildcats of Wilmington University had four players score in double-digits, as they were able to hold off the host Golden Bears of Kutztown University, 75-74 in non-conference men’s basketball action on Tuesday evening at Keystone Arena.
The game was close for much of the first half, as the two teams traded baskets for most of the period. A Brandon Fox layup with 7:27 to go, gave the ‘Cats a five-point lead (24-19). That lead would grow to as many as ten (37-27), courtesy of a quick 7-2 spurt, capped off by a James Pee three-pointer with 3:46 left in the period. Wilmington allowed four unanswered points to close out the half, and headed into the locker room holding a 37-31 advantage.
Kutztown opened the second on an 8-0 run, and took a 39-37 lead just 1:30 into the period. It was the Golden Bears who would then hold the lead, extending that advantage to as many as eight (65-57) with 8:29 remaining. The Wildcats then responded with an 18-6 run over the next six minutes, and led 75-71 with just over two minutes left in the game.
The Golden Bears’ Eric Brennan hit two free throws to cut the lead to just two (75-73) with 1:41 remaining. Both teams had a few opportunities for more scoring down the stretch, but were not able to connect. After a Wildcat foul with just 16 seconds left, Kutztown’s Micah Fraction missed both free throws, but the Golden Bears were able to control the rebound. Another Wilmington foul, gave the hosts yet another chance, but Kenny Battle hit just one of two, and the ‘Cats still clung to a slim one-point lead (75-74) with 14 seconds left on the clock. Wilmington’s James Pee missed the front end of a one-and-one in the final seconds, giving the Golden Bears a sliver of hope. After a quick timeout, Kutztown had the chance for one final play, but a three pointer from Fraction as the buzzer sounded came up short, and the Wildcats held on for their first victory of the season.
The Wildcats were led by junior guard James Pee, who netted 19 points on 7-of-11 shooting, including a perfect 5-of-5 from behind the arc. Senior Matt King added 16 points, shooting 7-of-9, while sophomore guard Herb Dennis also added 16 and dished out four assists. Junior forward Brandon Fox had 14 points and five rebounds.
Kutztown was led by Eric Brennan’s 19 points and 10 rebounds. Micah Fraction also added 19 points and pulled down five boards, while Devon McBride had 16 points. Nate Edwards chipped in 14 points for the hosts.
Both teams shot just similar numbers from the floor, with Wilmington connecting at 48.3 percent and Kutztown hitting at 47.1 percent. The Wildcats did their damage from behind the arc, as the nailed 9-of-14 three-pointers (64.3%), while the Golden Bears hit just 6-of-15 (40%) from three. The hosts did have the edge on the glass, out-rebounding the ‘Cats by a 34-27 margin. Wilmington forced 15 Kutztown turnovers, and turned them into 30 points, while committing just 10 miscues of their own.
With the win, Wilmington improved to 1-1 on the season, while Kutztown dropped to 1-1 overall. The Wildcats return to the court next Wednesday evening, when they play host to the Marauders of Millersville University in a non-conference tilt beginning at 7:00 PM.
11/23/2011 – MILLERSVILLE UNIVERSITY
'CATS HOLD OFF MILLERSVILLE, 80-77
NEW CASTLE, DE -- The Wilmington University men’s basketball team opened the last year of play at the Pratt Center with an 80-77 victory over the visiting Marauders of Millersville University in non-conference men’s basketball action on Wednesday evening.
The Wildcats (2-1) opened the game on a 19-9 run, maintaining control through the entire first half. The hosts entered the break holding a comfortable 42-33 lead. Wilmington continued to remain in the lead (61-51) seven minutes into the second half, but Millersville (2-3) responded with a 10-0 run to tie the game. That set the table for the down to the wire finish, as neither team would hold more than a two-possession lead over the game’s last seven minutes. After six lead changes, Wilmington’s Herb Dennis was clutch on the foul line, sinking four free throws in the last 31 seconds to seal the game. The Marauders had a chance to tie the game at the end of regulations, but a desperation three fell short and sent the Wildcats with the home-opening victory.
Wilmington was led by senior Corye Payton’s 19 points on 7-of-10 shooting, including an impressive 5-of-8 from behind the arc. Sophomore Herb Dennis added 16 points and six assists, while junior Brandon Fox had 12 points and seven rebounds. Senior Matt King added nine points and seven boards for the hosts.
Millersville was paced by Elijah Obade’s 22 points and nine rebounds. Larry Grant added 17 points, while Mike Seibert chipped in 16 points and five boards. Anthony Coleman rounded out the Marauders in double figures with a dozen.
The Wildcats shot 49.2 percent for the game, compared to Millersville’s 55.6 percent effort. Wilmington made up for that behind the arc, as the ‘Cats connected on 11-of-25 from long range, while the Marauders hit just 4-of-14. The visitors also had the edge on the glass, out-rebounding the Wildcats by a 35-28 margin. Wilmington made up for those shortcomings, with an outstanding 21-8 turnover to assist ratio, while forcing 15 Millersville miscues and turning them into 20 points.
The ‘Cats return to the court on Saturday afternoon, when they host the NYIT Bears in a non-conference tilt beginning at 3:00 PM.
11/26/2011 – NEW YORK INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
WILDCATS MAKE IT THREE IN A ROW WITH 70-58 VICTORY OVER NYIT
NEW CASTLE, DE -- Wilmington University won its third straight game, as they downed the visiting Bears of the New York Institute of Technology, 70-58 in non-conference men’s basketball action at the Pratt Center.
It was all NYIT (1-6) to start the game, as the visitors opened the first five minutes on a 12-3 run. Wilmington (3-1) answered right back with a 21-5 spurt of their own that spanned six minutes, and put the ‘Cats ahead 27-20 with just under nine minutes remaining in the first half. The Wildcats then closed out the period’s final five minutes on an 8-0 run, and headed into the break leading 41-27.
Wilmington maintained a double-digit advantage for most of the second half, and extended their lead to as many as 17 (53-36) with 13:25 to go. The Bears got as close as nine on two different occasions, but the ‘Cats were able to stay on top and pull away with their third consecutive victory.
The Wildcats were led by senior Corye Payton, who posted a game-high 16 points. Classmate Matt King added 12 points and eight rebounds, while junior Brandon Fox chipped in 13 points. Sophomore Herb Dennis had nine points and eight assists for the hosts.
NYIT was led by Jahari McKnight’s 12 points. Azel Prather, Jr. added 11 points and six rebounds, while David Naves had 10.
The Bears shot 46.5 percent from the floor for the game, while Wilmington connected at a 45 percent clip. The ‘Cats made their mark from behind the arc, draining 8-of-19 opportunities, while NYIT hit just 4-of-11. Both teams had 33 rebounds each, but Wilmington forced 21 Bear turnovers, while committing just 13 of their own.
The Wildcats are back in action on Wednesday evening, when they host the St. Thomas Aquinas College Spartans in a non-conference contest beginning at 8:00 PM.
11/30/2011 – ST. THOMAS AQUINAS COLLEGE
WILMINGTON MEN RALLY TO DOWN STAC, 81-69
NEW CASTLE, DE -- Wilmington University overcame a twelve-point first half deficit to down the visiting Spartans of St. Thomas Aquinas College (STAC), 81-69 in non-conference men’s basketball action on Wednesday evening at the Pratt Center.
It was all Spartans to start the game, as the visitors jumped out to a 20-8 lead over the game’s first eight minutes. STAC (2-4) held the advantage the entire first half, allowing Wilmington (4-1) to get within a basket (25-23) when the ‘Cats staged an 8-0 run. The Spartans responded with a quick 7-0 spurt of their own, pulling away slowly and headed into the break holding a 38-33 lead.
The STAC lead grew to nine (42-33) to start the second half, before the Wildcat comeback started. Trailing by three (46-43) with just over 15 minutes remaining, Wilmington ran off a quick 8-0 run and went ahead 51-46 with 12 minutes left. The Spartans hung close, and were within one (53-52), but the ‘Cats then used a 14-2 spurt over the next five minutes, capped by four three pointers, and pulled ahead, 67-54 with 4:33 left on the clock. STAC would not get closer than seven the rest of the way, and Wilmington held on for the 12-point victory, their fourth consecutive win.
The Wildcats were led by senior swingman Corye Payton, who posted 20 points and five rebounds. Junior guard Isiah Mason added 16, while sophomore Herb Dennis had 11 points. Fellow sophomore Jarvis Perry had six points and eight rebounds, while senior Matt King had nine points.
STAC was led by Justin Brown’s 20 points. Omar Kellman added nine points and 10 rebounds, while James Ockimey and Ronnie Bethea each had nine points as well.
Wilmington had a slim edge in shooting, connecting at 49.1 percent while STAC shot 47.3 percent from the floor. The difference in the game proved to be at the foul line, where the ‘Cats hit 20-of-22 and the Spartans were a dismal 10-of-20. The Wildcats held a slight advantage in rebounds, 35-30 and the two teams combined for 40 turnovers.
The ‘Cats are back in action on Saturday afternoon when they travel to take on the Rams of Philadelphia University. The game begins at 3:00 PM, and it marks their Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference opener.
12/3/2011 – Philadelphia University
‘CATS FALTER LATE, FALL TO PHILADELPHIA, 76-66
PHILADELPHIA, PA -- The Philadelphia University men's basketball team outscored visiting Wilmington (Del.) University 22-4 over the final 7:09 to come from behind and pick up a 76-66 win in its Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) opener Saturday afternoon in the Gallagher Center.
Philadelphia (3-3, 1-0 CACC) rattled off six straight points to cut its deficit to just one point 62-61. After Wilmington's Herbert Dennis, who had six points and eight assists, pushed the gap to 64-61 with two made free throws at the 4:35 mark, Philadelphia would score 15 of the game's final 17 points.
Center Temi Adebayo started the final spurt with six of his 17 points and put the Rams ahead 66-64. Adebayo also had nine rebounds and six blocks, all coming in the second half. Forward Nick Schlitzer sealed the win by hitting his final six free throw attempts on his way to a team-high 19 points.
Forward Corey Francisco finished with a double-double consisting of 12 points and 11 points. Guard Jim Connolly netted 13 of his 18 points in the opening half.
Wilmington (4-2, 0-1 CACC) got a game-high 23 points from senior guard Corye Payton. Junior guard James Pee scored 12 points in a reserve role. Senior Matt King added eight points and six rebounds.
The Rams knocked down 44.0 percent (22-of-50) of their shots, including 56.5 percent (13-of-23) in the second half. Philadelphia was phenomenal at the free-throw line, hitting at a 90.3 percent (28-of-31) clip. Wilmington shot 39.3 percent (22-of-56) from the field and 66.7 percent (14-of-21) at the line.
Philadelphia owned a 39-28 rebounding advantage, including a 23-10 edge in the final 20 minutes.
The Wildcats return to the friendly confines of the Pratt Center on Thursday evening, when they host the Chestnut Hill College Griffins in a CACC contest beginning at 8:00 PM.
(Courtesy of Philadelphia University Sports Information)
12/8/2011 – CHESTNUT HILL COLLEGE
WILMINGTON MEN CAN’T CATCH CHESTNUT HILL, LOSE 71-65
NEW CASTLE, DE -- Wilmington University kept it close against conference rival Chestnut Hill College, but came up just short, as the ‘Cats fell 71-65 in Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) men’s basketball action on Thursday evening at the Pratt Center.
The Griffins came out firing on all cylinders, making their first two shots to take a 5-0 lead. The ‘Cats fought for the next four minutes to regain the lead and extended it to four points. The two teams exchanged the lead three more times to finally bring it to a 19-19 tie at the 8:00 minute mark. From there, the Griffins kept Wilmington on hold, raking up a seven point lead with 3:24 remaining, and went into the break up by four 30-26.
The Wildcats roared out of the gates to open the second half, fighting to regain their fourth and final lead of the game just five minutes into the period, 40-38. Chestnut Hill then went on an 8-0 spurt to take a 46-40 lead, and would not trail again for the rest of the game. The Wildcats never got closer than three down the stretch, and trailed by as many as 16 in the final three and a half minutes (45-61), as clutch free-throw shooting by the visitors sealed their victory.
The ‘Cats were led by sophomore point guard Herb Dennis, who netted 18 points, three assists, and two steals. Senior Matt King added 14 points and eight boards, while junior guard Isiah Mason chipped in with 12 points and five assists. Senior forward Corye Payton added to the stat sheet with a team high eight rebounds to go along with his eleven points.
Chestnut Hill was paced by Mark DiRugeris’ game-high 22 points and five assists. Alssene Sanitilus netted 15 points and pulled down four boards. Luke Dickson added 16 points, while Brandon Williams chipped in with nine, seven from the foul line. The lower post tandem of Dan Comas and Seamus Radtke, posted a combined 19 points 14 boards, while being a huge obstacle for the ‘Cats in the paint.
The Griffins shot just over 48 percent for the game, while Wilmington connected at a 44.8 percent clip. The visitors held a slight edge on the glass, out-rebounding the Wildcats by a slim 33-32 margin. Both teams had similar turnovers (WU 14, CHC 13), but the Griffins made the most of them, turning them into 14 points. The difference in the game came at the foul line, where Chestnut Hill hit 13-of-17 opportunities. Wilmington went to the line just nine times, and made five.
Following the game, Wilmington dropped to 0-2 in the CACC and 4-3 overall, while Chestnut Hill improved to 2-0 in the conference and 8-3 on the season. The Wildcats return to the court on Saturday afternoon, when the Deacons of Bloomfield College travel to the Pratt Center in a CACC matchup beginning at 3:00 PM.
12/10/2011 – BLOOMFIELD COLLEGE
‘CATS EDGED BY BLOOMFIELD, 57-55
NEW CASTLE, DE -- The Wildcats of Wilmington University could not capitalize on late opportunities, and were edged by the visiting Deacons of Bloomfield College, 57-55 in Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) men’s basketball action on Saturday afternoon at the Pratt Center.
Bloomfield (3-1 CACC/6-5) had the advantage early on, as the Deacons jumped out to a 13-6 lead over the game’s first seven minutes. Wilmington (0-3 CACC/4-4) rallied with a quick 7-0 spurt of their own to tie the game at 13 at the midway point of the period. The two teams would then remain within four points of each other, before a Corye Payton layup at the buzzer gave the ‘Cats a 26-24 lead heading into the locker room.
It was more of the same in the second half, as both teams remained within striking distance of each other. The Deacons led by as many as five (35-30), five minutes into the period, but Wilmington tied the game three different times in the game’s final 10 minutes. With the game tied at 39, Bloomfield went on a 7-2 run to take another five point lead, but Wilmington rattled off the next five courtesy of an Isiah Mason three pointer and a layup, and tied the contest at 48 with 4:34 left on the clock. After another tie at 50, the Deacons scored the next four, and were up 54-50 with 46 seconds remaining. The Wildcats’ Herb Dennis nailed two free throws to cut the deficit to just a basket with 29 seconds on the clock. A turnover by Bloomfield gave the ‘Cats the ball, but a trey from Matt King fell short and the Deacons grabbed the rebound. Ahmad Harris was fouled and made one of two free throws, and Bloomfield extended their lead to three. Again, the ‘Cats were not able to capitalize on the opportunity, and were forced to foul. The Deacons’ Marvin Lewis hit both, pushing the gap to five (57-55) with seven seconds left. A late three at the buzzer by Corye Payton put the ‘Cats within two (57-55), but time ran out on the hosts, sending them to their third straight defeat.
Wilmington was led by senior guard Corye Payton, who netted 15 points and pulled down five rebounds. Junior Isiah Mason added 10, while senior forward Matt King chipped in with eight points and seven boards. Junior Brandon Fox had eight points and five rebounds.
Bloomfield was paced by Matt Wafula’s 16-point, 11-rebound performance. Kevin Udo had 10 points and eight rebounds before fouling out, while Terry Hicks netted 10 points as well. Ahmad Harris added seven points, three rebounds, four assists, and three steals.
The Wildcats held the edge shooting, as they connected at 40.7 percent, compared to Bloomfield, who shot 38.9 percent. The difference in the game came at the foul line. Although they didn’t shoot particularly well and made just 12-of-21 (57.1%), the Deacons were able to get to the line. Wilmington went to the line six times, and made just two (33%). Bloomfield out-rebounded the ‘Cats by a 44-32 margin, but the hosts did a better job in the assist/turnover ratio category, dishing out 13 and committing just 11, while the visitors had eight assists and made 16 turnovers.
Wilmington returns to action next Friday evening, when they travel to compete in the Division II Hoops Classic in Las Vegas. The ‘Cats take on the University of Indianapolis at 11:00 PM, and follow that with a game on Sunday against Central Oklahoma State University at 5:00 PM.
12/16/2011 – D2 Hoops Classic
University of Indianapolis
Las Vegas, NV
FOX’S DOUBLE-DOUBLE NOT ENOUGH, AS ‘CATS FALL TO INDIANAPOLIS 74-71
LAS VEGAS, NV -- Junior forward Brandon Fox notched 29 points and pulled down 11 rebounds, but it was not enough as the Wildcats of Wilmington University fell to the University of Indianapolis, 74-71 in the first game of the D2 Hoops Classic.
The Greyhounds (6-2) scored on their first possession and eventually built an 11-point lead, 19-8 with 12:23 to go in the first half. UIndy stretched the lead to 14, 33-19, after a three-pointer, but the Wildcats (4-5) came back to close within six, 33-27, with 5:26 to go in the half.
UIndy responded to go back up by 13, 44-31, on another three-pointer with 44 seconds left in the half and retained a 10-point lead at the break, 44-34. The Greyhounds shot 52 percent in the first half (13-25) with five three-pointers and made 13-of-16 free throws. They limited Wilmington to only two three-pointers and 4-of-6 at the line.
The Wildcats scored the first four points of the second half, but Cody Vest hit his first three-pointer to put UIndy back up 12, 51-39, just over four minutes into the half. Four minutes later, the Greyhounds still led by 12, 60-48, when Wilmington started to climb back into the game. The Wildcats were within one possession, 65-62, with 5:22 to play, but Adrian Moss came back with a three-pointer and Jarrett Hamilton converted a three-point play to put UIndy back up nine, 71-62.
The Greyhounds would only score three more points in the final 4:41, but were able to hold off Wilmington as Herb Dennis missed a three-pointer from just past half court at the buzzer.
The ‘Cats were paced by Fox’s 29 point, 11 rebound performance, as the junior shot 13-of-17 from the floor. Senior Corye Payton added 15 points and five boards, while classmate Matt King chipped in with 13 points and seven rebounds. Sophomore guard Herb Dennis added eight points and five assists.
Greyhound had four players in double-digits, led by Adrian Moss’ 19 points and five rebounds. Jarrett Hamilton added 13 points and nine boards, while Cody Vest had 12 and Wilbur O’Neil chipped in 11.
Wilmington had the edge shooting, as they connected at 46.7 percent, while UIndy hit at 42.3 percent. Rebounding was just about even, with the Wildcats pulling down 36, compared to the Greyhounds 38. The difference at the game came at the free throw line, where Wilmington hit just 9-of-18 and Indianapolis made 22-of-30 opportunities.
The Wildcats return to the court on Sunday evening in the final game of the Classic, as they take on Central Oklahoma University at 5:00 PM.
12/18/2011 – D2 Hoops Classic
Central Oklahoma University
Las Vegas, NV
WILMINGTON MEN FALL TO CENTRAL OKLAHOMA, 72-63 IN FINAL DAY OF ACTION AT THE DIVISION II HOLIDAY HOOPS CLASSIC
LAS VEGAS, NV -- The Wildcats of Wilmington University dropped their second game at the Division II Holiday Hoops Classic, as they fell to the Bronchos of Central Oklahoma by a score of 72-63.
UCO (8-6) never trailed in the contest, as the Bronchos opened the game on a 14-0 run. Seven minutes into the game, the lead grew to 20-15, as UCO hit eight of its first 11 shots. The advantage grew to as many as 16 (22-6) midway through the first half, but the ‘Cats rallied to pull within two (26-24) after an 18-4 run. The Bronchos held on and were up 32-29 at the break.
Wilmington (4-6) tied the game at 32 in the opening minute of the second half, but UCO responded with a 9-0 run to regain control, and extended that lead to 14 (51-37) midway through the period. The lead would grow to as many as 15 (56-41) with 7:31 remaining, but the ‘Cats still had some fight left in them. Wilmington pulled within seven at 63-56 with just over three minutes left on the clock, but could not get any closer. The Bronchos held on for a nine-point win, and the Wildcats left Las Vegas with a 0-2 record at the Holiday Classic.
The ‘Cats were led by senior Corye Payton, who posted 20 points and seven rebounds. Junior forward Brandon Fox added five points and 11 rebounds, while classmate Isiah Mason had 15 points.
Central Oklahoma was paced by Shane Carroll’s 22 points, while Spencer Smith added 13 points and 12 rebounds. Brent Friday notched 14 points, while Tyler Phillips chipped in with 10.
The Bronchos out-shot the Wildcats, hitting 49 percent of their shots, compared to 41.2 percent for the ‘Cats. Central Oklahoma held the edge on the glass too, 39-29, while both teams struggled from the foul line, with each shooting under 50 percent.
The Wildcats have some time off to enjoy the holidays, before returning to the court. Wilmington’s next game is a home contest against Washington Adventist University on Thursday, December 29th. Tip-off is slated for 7:00 PM.
12/29/2011 – WASHINGTON ADVENTIST UNIVERSITY
‘CATS DEALT SIXTH STRAIGHT LOSS, FALL TO WASHINGTON ADVENTIST 72-70 IN HEARTBREAKING FASHION
NEW CASTLE, DE -- The Wildcats of Wilmington University fell 72-70 to the visiting Shock of Washington Adventist University, courtesy of last-second basket from Jamie Newton in non-conference men’s basketball action on Thursday evening.
It was all Washington Adventist (6-7) to start this game, as the Shock opened the game on an 11-4 run over the game’s first five minutes. After the next five, it was 23-12 in favor of the visitors, but Wilmington (4-7) responded with a 17-6 spurt over the next five to tie the game at 29-29. Washington Adventist then pulled away, going ahead by as many as six (36-30) with just under two minutes remaining. The Shock went into the locker room holding a four point lead, 37-33.
With the visitors ahead by a 41-35 score, the Wildcats went on an 8-1 run to take a 43-42 lead just five minutes in the period. The ‘Cats held on to a slim lead over the next few, before the Shock answered with an 8-2 spurt to go back on top, 54-51. In a game of rallies, it was then Wilmington’s turn and the squad responded with a 9-1 run to take a 60-55 lead, their largest of the game, with 9:08 to play. The ‘Cats held on to the advantage for the next three minutes, but the Shock’s Brandon Washington hit a lay-up to net the contest at 62.
Washington Adventist then pulled ahead by as many as four (68-64) with 3:28 left on the clock. Two straight baskets by the ‘Cats tied the game at 68, and the Shock answered with a lay-up from Desmin Wade. Paco Boussougo netted a bucket for the Wildcats to tie the game at 70 with 1:44 remaining, and on the next series the visitors had numerous attempts to go ahead, but missed two shots and turned the ball over with 50 seconds left in the contest. Wilmington ran the clock down to 21 seconds before calling a time out, and on the ensuing play turned the ball over. Jamie Newton dribbled through a trio of Wilmington defenders before unleashing a runner in the lane that proved to be the game winner. The ‘Cats were left with 0.08 seconds on the clock, and could not get a shot off before the buzzer sounded, sending the hosts to their sixth straight defeat.
Wilmington was led by senior Corye Payton, who posted 18 points and eight rebounds. Junior forward Brandon Fox added 16 points and eight boards, while Isiah Mason had eight points and five rebounds.
The Shock were paced by Marcus Coleman’s 25 points and four rebounds. Jamie Newton added 13 points and 12 assists, while Anthony Berry netted 17 points and pulled down six boards.
Washington Adventist shot 52.6 percent from the floor for the game, while Wilmington hit at a 47.6 percent clip. Both teams struggled from behind the arc, with the ‘Cats hitting just 2-of-12 and the Shock making 1-of-13. The two squads were ice cold from the foul line, as Wilmington continued their troubles from the charity stripe (8-of-17) and Washington Adventist hit 11-of-21. The ‘Cats held the edge on the glass, out-rebounding the visitors by a 41-32 margin, including 19 offensive rebounds that led to 21 second-chance points.
Wilmington returns to the court on Tuesday evening, when they host the cross-town rival Lightning of Goldey-Beacom College in a CACC contest beginning at 8:00 PM.
1/3/2012 – GOLDEY-BEACOM COLLEGE
Mason’s Perfect Night Overshadowed by Overtime Loss to CACC Rival Goldey-Beacom, 79-75
New Castle, DE -- Despite a perfect effort by Isiah Mason from the floor, the Wilmington University men’s basketball team dropped an overtime thriller to Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference rival Goldey-Beacom College, 79-75, on Tuesday night at the Pratt Center.
Mason finished eight for eight from the floor, two for two from beyond the arc, and two for two from the foul line to tally a team high 20 points. But it wasn’t enough as the Wildcats (4-8, 0-4 CACC) couldn’t hold onto a ten point lead with just over seven minutes remaining in regulation.
Wilmington found itself trailing by its largest margin of the first half after Goldey-Beacom’s Ido Yehuda put back a lay in to put the Lightning up 36-33 heading into the break.
GBC (6-5, 4-0 CACC) came out in the second half and took its largest lead of the game with 17:06 remaining, as Rich Flemming made one of two from the foul line to make it 40-35. But that is when the Wildcats stormed back and went on a 21-6 run, fueled by Mason’s back-to-back three’s to kick start the run, to take the largest lead of the evening 56-46.
After the Lightning scored two straight baskets to cut the deficit to six, Edward Freeman responded with lone three-pointer of the night, making it 59-50 with 7:44 to play. A layup by Brandon Fox on the Wildcats’ next possession again made it a 10 point lead with 7:06 remaining in the second half.
Goldey-Beacom rallied with a 14-3 run of its own to eventually retake the lead on a jumper by Lawrence Livingston. A.J. Picard made it a two point lead for the Lightning with 22 seconds left on the scoreboard before Mason responded with another layup to tie the score for the eighth time on the night. The Wildcats’ Brandon Fox stripped a driving Picard as time was winding down, but a last chance three by Herbert Dennis was off the mark, sending the game to overtime.
Mason scored the first two points of the overtime form the foul line, but that would be the only lead the Wildcats would see in the extra period. Trailing by two 24 seconds remaining, Jarvis Perry was isolated at the top of the arc, but lost control of the ball on the way to basket, turning the ball over and keeping Goldey-Beacom perfect in the CACC.
Fox finished with 15 points while Freeman added 14 and Corye Payton chipped in 13. Perry and Payton each had a team-high seven rebounds.
The Lightning went 25 for 34 from the charity stripe, while the Wildcats were only 12-18 for the game.
The men return to action on Saturday, as they travel to Caldwell for another CACC matchup starting at 3 p.m.
(Dan Lauletta)
1/7/2012 – Caldwell College
Wilmington Men’s Basketball Completes 15 Point Comeback for First CACC Victory of Season over Caldwell, 83-78
CALDWELL, N.J. - - Trailing by as many as 15 points in the second half, and down 10 with 7:41 to play, the Wilmington University men’s basketball stormed back to win its first Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference game of the year, 83-78, over Caldwell College at the George R. Newman Center on Saturday afternoon.
With the win, Wilmington snapped a seven game losing streak and improved to 5-8 overall, 1-4 in the CACC. The loss dropped Caldwell to 8-6 overall, 3-4 in the CACC.
Brandon Fox led the late comeback charge, as the Wildcats used an 11-0 run to take the lead with 3:41 remaining. Trailing by 10, Fox hit a three-pointer to start the rally, and added two free throws to cut it to five with 4:58 to play. Herbert Dennis hit all four of his foul shots to trim it to a one point lead with 3:41, and Fox completed the rally on a layup from Jarvis Perry.
The Cougars weren’t done however; as Michael Balkovic stopped the 11-0 spurt with a layup of his own to put Caldwell back on top. Now tied at 76, Perry put home his own layup from Isiah Mason, and was fouled, completing the old fashioned three-point play at the 1:06 mark to give Wilmington the lead for good.
Caldwell’s Arthur Morrison cut the lead to one with a mid-range jumper with seven seconds remaining, but Dennis and Edward Freeman hit all four of the team’s foul shots to complete the comeback and ice the game.
The Wildcats made 17-of-26 (65.4 percent) from the floor in the second period and held a 31-27 edge on the glass, including a 14-7 rebounding advantage after halftime. The ‘Cats shot 40 percent (10-of-25) form beyond the arc, topping the Cougars from long range (34.8 percent, 8-of-23). Wilmington also reached the charity stripe 21 times, missing only two for the afternoon. Caldwell went 12-for-16 from the foul line.
Fox led all scorers with 29 points, shooting an outstanding 11-15 from the floor. He made three of his four three point efforts, none bigger than the one that sparked the comeback. Fox also was a perfect 4-for-4 from the foul line. Corey Payton wasn’t far behind his teammate, scoring 22 points on 7-for-14 shooting. Payton was also perfect from the foul line, going 4-for-4. Freeman also tallied double digits for the visitors, scoring 12 points off the bench, going 2-for-3 from downtown. Fox and Payton also led the rebounding effort, each collecting seven boards.
Caldwell shot 60.7 percent from the field in the second half, and 52.7 percent for the game, but it wasn’t enough as the Cougars dropped their second game by five points or less on the season. Morrison tallied 21 points, six rebounds and four assists, while Nikola Otovic also scored 21 points to go with five assists.
The Wildcats will have a chance at revenge this week, as they take to the road once again to play Washington Adventist on Tuesday, January 10. Wilmington dropped a 72-70 decision at the buzzer to Washington Adventist on December 29 at home. The game is slated for a 7:30 p.m. tip.
(Dan Lauletta)
1/10/2012 – Washington Adventist University
Big Runs Ruin Wilmington Men’s Basketball Chances, Fall 64-58 to Washington Adventist
TAKOMA PARK, Md. - - Runs of 17-0 and 17-4 to close out each half by Washington Adventist ruined the chances of the Wilmington University men’s basketball to avenge an early season loss to the Shock, this time falling 64-58 at The Pitt on Tuesday evening.
The Wildcats (5-9 overall) bounced back from a 17-0 first half spurt by Washington Adventist (7-8 overall) to take a second half lead, but another late surge allowed the Shock to take both games from the ‘Cats this season.
Wilmington finished with two players in double figures, led by Corye Payton who tallied a team high 13 points and six rebounds. Rashaun Rasheed picked up 11 points and tied the team high with six rebounds off the bench. Herbert Dennis dished out five helpers on the night, also adding nine points in the losing effort.
The game started as a close, hard fought battle and Wilmington was finally able to get over the hump and took its first lead on a pair of free throws by Brett Foskey. Another free throw by Payton put the Wildcats up two, 17-15, but that is when the Shock took over. Brandon Washington started the onslaught with a lay-in before a three by Daray Hill opened the floodgates. When all said and done, Washington Adventist took a 32-17 lead with 4:46 left in the first half. Wilmington’s Brandon Fox, James Pee and Jarvis Perry each put home a layup, but the ‘Cats still headed into the halftime break trailing 35-24.
A 12-4 Wildcats run to open the second half cut the deficit to three with 12:55 remaining in regulation, with the final bucket coming on a three-pointer by Rasheed, his lone attempt on the night. The Shock went back up by eight but another 12-1 run by Wilmington allowed the visitors to take the lead, 48-45 with 6:55 remaining.
Following a timeout by Washington Adventist, Brandon Washington jump started a 17-4 rally over the next five minutes to take a commanding 10 point lead with only 19 seconds remaining. Jamie Newton hit a game changing three with 5:50 left on the clock, giving the Shock the lead for good, 51-48.
Back-to-back layups by Dennis with 15 seconds remaining cut it to six points, giving the ‘Cats an opportunity, but Newton sank both free-throws to ice the game, and gave the home squad the 64-58 victory.
Newton led all scorers with 22 points while Marcus Coleman picked up a double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds. Washington also tallied double-digits, collecting 10 points on the night.
Wilmington returns to the court and Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference action this Saturday as they head to Holy Family for a 12 noon start.
1/14/2012 – Holy Family University
Payton Leads Wildcats Men’s Basketball To Second Half Comeback, Down Holy Family 73-66
Philadelphia, Pa. - - Corye Payton scored 19 of his 28 points in the second half to lead the Wilmington University men’s basketball team to a 73-66 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference victory over Holy Family on Saturday afternoon at the Campus Center.
In what seems to have become a habit, the Wildcats (6-9, 2-4 CACC) fell behind early and turned a 10-point halftime deficit into a seven point victory. Holy Family (7-8, 3-4 CACC) had as big as a 14 first half lead but shot just 8-for-25 in the second half while being outscored 43-26.
The Tigers’ Khiry Hankins hit a three-pointer to put the home team up 40-26 with 46 seconds remaining in the first half, and after two free-throws and a layup by Payton, Holy Family went into the halftime break with a 40-30 lead.
Still trailing by 10, Payton started the comeback with back-to-back layups to cut the deficit to 42-36 with 17:06 left in regulation. The teams traded baskets over the next three possessions before a James Pee hit consecutive jumpers, the last one from beyond the arc, to make it 45-42 with 14:26 left to play.
The Tigers held onto the lead for the following five minutes despite Wilmington cutting their lead to one on three separate occasions. It wasn’t until Payton slammed home a dunk, and completed the three-point play as he was fouled, allowing the Wildcats to take their first lead, 53-51, since the 17:09 mark of the first half. It was a lead the Wildcats wouldn’t relinquish.
Rashaun Rasheed’s layup with 8:10 left in regulation gave the Wildcats their biggest lead of the game at 59-51, and capped a 10-0 run that seized the momentum in the pivotal CACC matchup.
Wilmington only allowed the Tigers to cut it to a three point lead on two occasions, the last on a Rasheed Sneed jumper with 4:52 to play. Holy Family could only get as close as four points the rest of the way. The ‘Cats hit their final three from the charity stripe to ice the contest, stealing one away from the Tigers.
Payton shot 10-for-18 from the field, including 3-for-7 from three and 5-for-7 from the free throw line. James Pee joined Payton in double-digits with 13 points off the bench, shooting 5-for-8 from the field. Pee also finished with a team-high eight rebounds. Jarvis Perry dished out a game-high seven assists and three steals.
Hankins finished with a game-high 27 points, while Rickie Crews added 15 and Alberto Munoz chipped in 12 points to lead the Tigers. Crew added 10 rebounds to complete the double-double.
The Wildcats held the advantage on the glass, collecting 42 boards to Holy Family’s 32. The ‘Cats shot 56 percent from the floor in the second half but finished only 38.3 percent for the game. The Tigers shot 42.1 percent for the game, but only 32 percent in the final stanza.
Wilmington returns home next week, playing two more pivotal CACC contests at the Pratt Center, with the first contest against the University of the Sciences on Tuesday. The conference doubleheader starts with the women’s game at 6 p.m. before the men tip off at 8 p.m.
1/17/2012 – UNIVERSITY OF THE SCIENCES
Bench Play Sparks Key CACC Victory as Wilmington Men’s Basketball Knocks Off USciences, 83-65
New Castle, Del - - In what was a tightly contested matchup for the first three quarters, the Wilmington University men’s basketball team ran away from the University of the Sciences late in a key Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference contest, 83-65, on Tuesday night at the Pratt center.
Trailing by one, 56-55, with 9:55 remaining in the game, Wilmington (7-9, 3-4 CACC) used an 11-0 lead to take the lead for good, keeping them in arms reach in the conference standings. The Devils (1-12, 0-7 CACC) played better than their record indicating, but was not deep enough off the bench to continue to run with the Wildcats.
Wilmington Junior James Pee came off the bench and sparked the rally in the second half, leading to a remarkable 45-4 bench point advantage for the contest. Pee shot 5-for-7 from the floor in the second half, including 4-for-6 from beyond the three-point line and 2-for-2 from the charity stripe, scoring all 16 of his points in the final stanza. The Wildcats used 30 points off the bench in the second half, in comparison to USP’s one point from its reserves.
Leading by three with 7:15 left to play in regulation, Pee knocked down a three to extend the lead to six, and then got an offensive rebound off a missed free throw and put home the quick jumper to make a 10 points lead. On the next trip down the floor, Pee nailed another three-pointer to move the margin to 11, scoring eight of the team’s last 10 points.
The late lead continued to balloon for the Wildcats, as Herbert Dennis hit eight consecutive free-throws, helping the team to an 81-65 advantage with 1:59 on the clock. Pee iced the Devils, sinking the final two foul shots for the game, completing the 83-65 victory.
Herbert led the Wildcats with 21 points, shooting 5-of-9 from the floor but more importantly 10-for-11 from the foul line. Pee finished with 16 points, five rebounds and three assists while Corye Payton added 14 points and seven rebounds. Payton helped sway the momentum early in the second half with a pair of acrobatic dunks from the baseline. Brandon Fox contributed 10 points while Jarvis Perry added a game-high nine assists. Matt King returned to the lineup after missing time with an injury and tallied eight points.
Reigning CACC Rookie of the Week Garret Kerr led the Devils by picking up another double-double, this time going for 16 points and 14 rebounds. Tyrone Mann-Barnes paced USciences with 19 points while Henry Messinger added 11 for the visitors.
Wilmington shot 51.7 percent from the floor for the game, and 64 percent in the second half. The Wildcats held USciences to 44.4 percent shooting in the second half, and 48.1 percent for the game. The Devils outrebounded the ‘Cats, 37-30, but the home team got to the line two more times and sank five more free-throws.
The Wildcats remain home this week, as they welcome Concordia to the Pratt Center on Saturday, January 21 for another key CACC matchup. The game is slated for a 3 p.m. tip.
1/24/2012 – Goldey-Beacom College
Rally Falls Short As Wilmington Men’s Basketball Can’t Overcome Second Half Deficit, 73-64, at Goldey-Beacom
WILMINGTON, Del. – This time the hole was too big to climb out of.
In what has become almost an every game occurrence, the Wilmington University men’s basketball team fell behind early but couldn’t manage to climb all the way back, dropping a 73-64 decision at Goldey-Beacom on Tuesday night in a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference matchup.
The Wildcats (7-10, 3-5 CACC) found themselves down 15-2 before they clawed their back into the contest by halftime. But another double-digit second half surge by Goldey-Beacom (11-6, 6-2 CACC) was too much for the visitors.
A three-pointer by AJ Picard put GBC up 16 with 14:09 to play, giving the Lightning their largest lead of the game, and proving to be just large enough to pick up the win.
The Wildcats cut the deficit to nine with a pair of free-throws from Matt King, trailing 49-38 with 10:19 showing on the clock in the second half. King and Beacom’s Tariq Uqdah then went after a loose ball, forcing King to run over Uqdah. After the foul on King was called, Uqdah had displayed a tyrant of extra-curricular activity, forcing the refs to putting two technical fouls on him and disqualifying him from the contest. The Wildcats went on to hit 3-of-4 of the foul shots to close the gap to 55-46 with 7:38 to play.
The momentum turned to the Wildcats favor, as they scored back-to-back fast break buckets to make it a three-point game with 6:19 left in regulation. Wilmington cut it to a single point on their next possession, but a timely three by little used Curtis Hopkins gave GBC a four-point lead, and secured the victory.
Corye Payton scored a game-high 23 points and finished with a team high six rebounds, while King finished with 12 points. Payton shot 8-for-15 from the floor, including 4-for-9 from three-point territory. The Wildcats were hurt by their performance at the charity stripe, shooting 15-25 from the line.
The Lightning had four players in double figures, led by Marcus Porter’s 19. Rich Fleming added 18 points and a game-high 13 rebounds, while Picard (14) and Jordan Brooks (10) also added double-digits.
Wilmington shot 21-for-54 from the floor, including 7-for-19 from three-point land, but lost the battle on the boards, 38-34. GBC shot 22-for-50 from the floor for the game, including 10-for-18 from beyond the arc.
The Wildcats will look to bounce back in the CACC on Saturday as they remain on the road as they head to Dominican (N.Y.) for a 3 p.m. tip.
1/28/2012 – Dominican College
Second Half Run not Enough as Wilmington Men’s Basketball Falls to Dominican, 74-62
ORANGEBURG, N.Y. - - This time the deficit was too big to overcome.
Trailing by 22 points at the halftime break, the Wilmington University men’s basketball team tried its patented second half comeback against Dominican but could only cut it to as close to nine points, falling on the road, 74-62, in Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Action on Saturday afternoon.
Finding themselves down by as many as 26 in the second half, the Wildcats (7-11, 2-6 CACC) used a 19-3 run starting at the 12:34 mark to close within nine points, but ran out of steam and time on the road. Dominican (11-7, 4-6 CACC) led wire-to-wire and used a 25-for-34 effort from the foul line for the win.
The Chargers used a 23-0 run in the final ten minutes in the first half to take a commanding 40-13 lead with 1:56 to play in the first half. Matt King ended the streak with a pair of free throws, and a Corye Payton three-pointer allowed the Wildcats to go into the halftime break down 22.
Dominican came out in the second half and extended the lead back to 26 on a three-pointer by Khaleev Ginyard with 17:14 to play. The teams traded buckets for the next couple possessions as a layup by the Charger’s Cory Quimby made it 56-31 with 12:54 remaining in regulation.
But that is when the Wildcats made their run.
King started the rally with three of the team’s next four layups to spark an eight point run. Ed Freeman sank two free throws to make it 10 straight before Dominican’s Quimby ended it with a layup of his own. But Payton responded with layup, followed by a three from James Pee and two more lay-ins from Jarvis Perry and Payton cut it to 59-50 with 4:41 on the clock.
The Wildcats ran out of steam from there however, as the Chargers put a run of their together as they re-extended the lead back to 16 points with 1:37 to play. Another 7-0 run by Wilmington cut it to nine once again, but with only 43 seconds to play in the game. Dominican made 5-of-8 foul shots to finish off the game.
Payton led all scorers with 20 points, shooting 7-for-16 on the afternoon. King (13) and Perry (11) also added double figures for the Wildcats, as Perry, King, and Freeman all pulled in a team high four rebounds.
Quimby also had a game-high 20 points for the Chargers, shooting 7-for-10 from the floor and 6-for-8 from the foul line. Quimby finished with a double-double, grabbing 18 rebounds. Ginyard (16) and Daniel Woods (13) also picked up double figures in points.
The Wildcats return to the hardwood on Tuesday, January 31 as they welcome Philadelphia to the Pratt Center for an 8 p.m. tip. Tuesday is the state of Delaware’s first Domestic Violence Awareness Night and the teams will wear purple warm-up shirts to help spread awareness.
1/31/2012 – PHILADELPHIA UNIVERSITY
Shooting Woes Haunt Wilmington Men’s Basketball in 65-58 Setback to Philadelphia
NEW CASTLE, Del. - - The long-range shots weren’t falling in the second half for the Wilmington University men’s basketball team, as the Wildcats dropped a pivotal Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference matchup against Philadelphia, 65-58, on Tuesday night at the Pratt Center.
The Wildcats (7-12, 3-7 CACC) shot 11-for-27 in the second half (40 percent) but missed eight of 10 shots from three-point territory in a come from behind effort. Philadelphia (13-6, 8-2 CACC) remained atop the CACC South Division leaderboard with the win.
Trailing by 11 on three different occasions in the first half, the Wildcats used a 15-8 run over the final 8:38 to cut it to a four point deficit heading into the halftime break.
James Pee got the rally started with a three-pointer off the bench at the 7:43 mark. After a Ram’s basket, Corye Payton came down the floor and hit another three-pointer, making it a seven point contest with 6:44 remaining in the half. Matt King scored the Wildcats’ next four points before Brandon Fox had the final tally of the half with a layup off a feed from Herbert Dennis. The Wildcats were down 33-29 heading into the locker rooms.
The Wildcats came out of the break with passion, as Payton hit a jumper to make it a two point game a mere five seconds into the half. After the Rams hit one out of two from the foul line, Jarvis Perry hooked up with Payton on the back door lob, as Payton slammed it home to make it a one point game.
The next time down the floor, Fox grabbed an offensive rebound and put back the lay in to give the Wildcats the lead, 35-34, with 18:28 to play in regulation. But back came the Rams, as Philadelphia’s Nick Christian hit a three 12 seconds later to retake the lead. The Rams would hold the lead for the rest of the game.
The lead grew to as many as nine after back-to-back three-pointers by the Rams, as the Wildcats went cold from the floor. The three point deficit would be the closest the home squad would get for the remainder of the game. Philadelphia would hit 5-of-7 free throws in the final minute of play.
Payton led all scorers with 20 points, as Fox added 15 and a team high eight rebounds. King also chipped in with 10 points and six boards. Dennis dished out seven assists without committing a turnover in the game. The Wildcats shot 22-for-56 (39.3%) for the game, including 7-for-21 from beyond the arc.
The Rams had four of their starters in double-figures, led by Christian and center Temi Adebayo’s 18 points each. Jim Connolly added 11 points while Corey Francisco finished with 10. All of the scoring came from the starters for head coach Herb Magee, as Nick Schiltzer rounded out the scoring with eight points. Francisco had a game high 10 rebounds. As a team, the Rams shot 24-for-53 (45.3%) from the floor including 8-for-18 from three-point territory.
The Wildcats will have a shot at redemption on Saturday, as they return to the Pratt Center for a CACC cross division showdown with Felician. The game is slated for a 3 p.m. start.
2/4/2012 – FELICIAN COLLEGE
Seniors Payton and King Lead Wilmington Men’s Basketball over Felician, 67-56
NEW CASTLE, Del. - - The Wilmington University men’s basketball team outscored Felician by 11 points in the second half, turning a tied ballgame at the half into a much needed Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference victory, 67-56, on Saturday afternoon at the Pratt Center.
With the win, Wilmington (8-12, 4-7 CACC) ended a three-game skid and kept its head above water in the CACC playoff scenario with six conference games remaining. Felician (6-14, 3-9 CACC) went cold in the second half, shooting 9-for-26 in the second stanza for its fifth straight loss.
The Wildcats used a 12-1 run to open the second half to take control of the tied ballgame. The teams struggled from the floor in the first five minutes of the second half, as only a combined five points were scored. Ed Freeman hit a jumper with 14:30 left in regulation to make it 41-36. Corye Payton then scored back-to-back layups, the second on a steal and a solo coast to coast to make it 45-36 with 13:33 remaining.
Felician wouldn’t roll over so easy however, as they used a run of its own to make it a four-point game with 10:39 on the clock. John Tello hit three shots in a row for the Golden Falcons to cut the lead to five before Tajric Boggs hit one of two from the foul line to make it 47-43. Anthony D. Green made it a four point deficit again with a layup, 49-45, with 9:53 to play, but that would be as close as the Falcons would make it the rest of the contest.
Senior Matt King sank the Golden Falcons with his lone three of the game, putting an end to any thoughts of a comeback at the 8:31 mark of the second half. With it only being a four-point game, King found his spot in the corner in front of his own bench and nailed his only three of the game to make it 52-45, deflating the visitors. The lead ballooned to as many as 11 in the final four minutes as Payton again laid one in for a 63-52 margin with 3:34 showing on the clock.
Payton scored a season’s high 30 points in the win, shooting 11-for-19 and 4-for-7 from the foul line. He hit 4-for-10 from beyond the three-point arc, and added six rebounds on the day. King finished with his first double-double of the season, pouring in 13 points while grabbing a game-high 14 rebounds. The Wildcats shot 26-for-66 from the floor but 14-for-34 (41.2%) in the second half.
Tello finished with a team-high 18 points off the bench for Felician as Anthony D. Green added 16 off the bench. Tello also grabbed a team-high nine rebound on the afternoon, as Antoine Obery and Will Thompson picked up seven boards a piece. The Falcons shot 24-for-58 (41.4%) from the floor but committed 20 turnovers.
The Wildcats remain in the comfort of the Pratt Center for one more game this week, as they will make up the postponed game from January 21 against Concordia on Monday, February 6. The game has been moved up an hour and is expected to start at 7 p.m.
2/6/2012 – CONCORDIA (ppd from 1/21)
Wilmington Men’s Basketball Scorches Concordia in Second Half Comeback, 82-72
NEW CASTLE, Del. - - Ed Freeman’s three-pointer with 11:20 to play in regulation broke the tenth tie of the contest and the Wilmington University men’s basketball team never looked back, defeating Concordia, 82-72, for its second straight Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference victory on Monday night at the Pratt Center.
Wilmington (9-12, 5-7 CACC) kept its postseason hopes alive with the victory and now sit only a game back from the fourth spot in the South Division. They travel to Holy Family next Tuesday, the team that is currently one game ahead in the standings. Concordia (10-12, 7-7 CACC) out rebounded the Wildcats, but couldn’t hold onto the two-point halftime lead.
In a game that featured 10 ties and 10 lead changes, Freeman’s three-pointer was the deal breaker. After Brandon Whitaker knocked down his own three ball to tie it for the 10th time, Freeman wasted no time and scored his long range shot six seconds later to make it 54-51 with 11:20 remaining in regulation. The Wildcats would hold onto the lead for the rest of the game.
The lead grew to as many as 10 points throughout the remainder of the second half, as Freeman nailed another three-pointer at the 9:18 mark to make it 59-53. Dennis Herbert extended the lead to eight with his own three ball and stopped any kind of a comeback attempt by the Clippers by sinking another shot from beyond the arc on the home team’s next offensive possession to make it 67-58 with 7:01 showing on the clock.
Concordia’s Norman Pope got it down to six with his own trey, but an Isiah Mason turnaround jumper in the lane and a fast-break dunk by Matt King made it 71-61 with five minutes to play in the game. Any attempt at a late game comeback by the visitors was thwarted, as the Clippers could only manage to cut the deficit to five on two occasions. The Wildcats would make 9-of-12 from the foul line in the final three minutes of play to secure the victory.
The Wildcats had four players in double figures, led by the reigning CACC Player of the Week Corye Payton. Payton tied a game-high with 21 points, shooting 8-for-13 and 5-for-7 from the free throw line. He has now scored 20 or more points in five consecutive games. King added a season’s best 21 points on 8-of-13 shooting. King also grabbed five boards and dished out five assists. Herbert chipped in with 17 points while Freeman rounded out the double-digit scorers with 10 points.
The Clippers also had four players in double digits, but kept one of the CACC’s top scorers below his average. Argelix Gil only finished with 13 points, but added 13 rebounds for the game. Whitaker led the Clippers with 21 points while Pope (14) and Lavor Morris (12) also scored in bunches.
The Wildcats have two more games this week, as they try to make their way into the playoffs with five games remaining in the regular season. They will travel to Chestnut Hill on Thursday before heading to Nyack on Saturday.
2/9/2012 – Chestnut Hill College
Wilmington Men’s Basketball Lets Second Half Lead Slip Away at Chestnut Hill, 69-67
PHILADELPHIA - - The game seemed to in hand in the second half for the Wilmington University men’s basketball team, but the Wildcats let a 18 point second half lead slip away as Chestnut Hill came back, 69-67, to steal a pivotal Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference contest on Thursday night at the Sorgenti Arena.
Leading 54-40 with 11:23 to play in the second half Wilmington (9-13, 5-8 CACC) saw its lead disappear and eventually became a deficit with 1:15 left on the clock. Chestnut Hill (17-8, 10-3 CACC) went on a 28-13 run to take its first lead since the 11:28 mark of the first half.
The Wildcats got out to the large lead starting with 16-4 run closing the first half. The ‘Cats were able to turn a 23-19 point lead into a 39-23 advantage over the final 4:14 of the opening frame. Herbert Dennis converted an old fashioned three-point play to kick start the rally to make it 28-19 before Dennis, James Pee and Ed Freeman made threes on their final three possessions of the first half to extend it to a 16 point game.
Corye Payton opened the second half with a layup to give the Wildcats their biggest lead of the game at 41-23. But the Griffins hung around in the opening 10 minutes of the second half and cut the lead down to 14 before they made their final move.
Chestnut Hill used a 9-2 run to make it a five-point game with 5:52 showing on the clock. Still a five point game, the Griffins’ Francis Ashe scored a layup before two free throws by Mark DiRugeris Jr. cut the Wildcats lead to one at 62-61 with 3:50 left in regulation.
Three free throws and a layup by Payton pushed the lead back out to six for the visitors, but Brandon Williams nailed a three-pointer to bring the Griffins back to life with 2:05 to play. Luke Dickson went to the line on the Griffins next trip down the floor, sinking both to cut it to a one-point game once again.
Dickson then got the job done on the defensive end of the court with a steal, and was fouled once again to go to the line. Dickson pushed the pressure aside and sank both foul shots once again, giving the home team the lead with 1:15 left in the game.
Herbert had a chance to put the teams on the seesaw but missed a layup nearly 20 seconds later. The Griffins’ Dickson nearly gave the game away on a turnover with 16 seconds on the board, but Pee was unable to convert on the offensive end, turning it back over to the home team.
DiRugeris hit one of two free-throws with two seconds left to play, and the Wildcats never were able to get a shot off for the win.
Freeman led the Wildcats with 18 points on 4-for-10 shooting, including 3-for-5 from beyond the arc and 7-for-8 from the foul line. Payton finished with 11 points while Pee also collected double digit points with 10. Brett Foskey had a team high seven rebounds while Pee and Freeman added six boards each.
Chestnut Hill’s Dan Comas led all scorers with 21 points on 7-for-12 shooting while adding 7-for-8 from the foul line. He finished with a double-double by grabbing a game-high 12 rebounds. Ashe was the only other Griffin in double-digits, as he put in 14 points.
The Wildcats will look to get back in the win column on Saturday, as they travel to Nyack for their third game this week. The game is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m.
2/11/2012 – Nyack College
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