News Release
Contact
Daniel Lauletta
Coordinator of Sports Info,
Athletics
320 DuPont Highway
New Castle, DE
19720
(302) 356-2020
daniel.j.lauletta@wilmu.edu
Another Last Second Defeat for Wilmington Men’s Basketball, 66-63, as Game-Tying Three Falls Short on Senior Night against Goldey-Beacom
MBB: Goldey-Beacom 66 - Wilmington 63
Another second half comeback fell a hair short for the Wilmington University men’s basketball team, as a game-tying three-pointer at the buzzer hit the front rim and Goldey-Beacom took a 66-63 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference victory on Tuesday night at the WU Athletics Complex.
Playing in front of their home crowd for the final time in the 2013-14 season and with hopes of keeping their playoff chances alive, the Wildcats (9-18, 5-13 CACC) battled back from a nine point halftime deficit to take a one point lead with 3:46 remaining, but couldn’t hold on down the stretch.
The Lightning (10-14, 8-10 CACC) scored on their ensuing possession to retake the lead, 60-59, with 3:30 to play and never relinquished the lead, fighting off every attempt by the Wildcats to claw back. Wilmington brought it back to within one on a pair of free throws from senior Shaq Monroe-Gaskins, and again on a layup by Valentino Thompson with 1:02, but couldn’t never get over the hump and retake the lead.
Trailing by three with two seconds remaining, Thompson missed both ends of his free throws, but Rashaun Rasheed came down with the offensive rebound and passed it back to Monroe-Gaskins standing outside the three-point arc. Looking to tie the game at the buzzer, Monroe-Gaskins attempt fell narrowly short, mathematically eliminating the Wildcats from playoff contention.
The Wildcats needed to win their final two contests of the season, and finish in a three-way tie with Chestnut Hill and Goldey-Beacom for the fourth and final playoff spot. The tie-breaker would have fell the Wildcats’ way if all three teams finished with seven CACC wins.
The foul line harmed the Wildcats on Tuesday night, as they finished 15-of-26 from the charity stripe for the game, 13-of-23 in the second half. Goldey-Beacom hit 14-of-18 from the foul line, including 12-of-16 in the second half to hold off the Wildcats.
Monroe-Gaskins, one of three seniors playing their final game at the WU Athletics Complex on Tuesday night, led the way with 13 points for the Wildcats. Rasheed was the only other Wildcat to reach double figures with 10 points. Senior Herb Dennis scored eight points to go along with four steals and three assists to cap his amazing home career while senior Dusan Kojic grabbed four rebounds and scored two points while adding two assists in his final home game as well.
The two were tightly matched throughout the game, as Wilmington turned 12 Goldey-Beacom turnovers into 13 points while the Lightning turned nine Wildcat turnovers into 11 points. Each team scored 30 points in the paint while Goldey-Beacom narrowly outscored Wilmington, 14-12, in second chance points.
Distance shots were hard to come by on Tuesday as Goldey-Beacom converted only 2-of-13 from beyond the three-point arc with Wilmington going 4-of-19 from deep.
Wilmington closes out its 2013-14 season on the road on Saturday when the Wildcats head to North Division foe Caldwell. The men’s game will start the CACC doubleheader, with a tip scheduled for 1 p.m.
