Strong Second Half Sends Men’s Basketball to 82-66 Victory at Nyack

Copyright 2018; Wilmington University. All rights reserved. File photo of Miles Gillette who collected his third straight double-double with 24 points and 10 rebounds at Nyack, taken by Frank Stallworth. January 16, 2018 vs. Jefferson.
Copyright 2018; Wilmington University. All rights reserved. File photo of Miles Gillette who collected his third straight double-double with 24 points and 10 rebounds at Nyack, taken by Frank Stallworth. January 16, 2018 vs. Jefferson.

NYACK, N.Y. - - A big second half allowed the Wilmington University men's basketball team to comeback from a three-point halftime deficit to take down Nyack, 82-66, on Saturday afternoon at Bowman Gym in Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference cross divisional action.

Trailing 38-35 at the break, the Wildcats (11-8, 6-4 CACC) came out and shot 73.1 percent from the floor in the second half to outscore the Warriors (3-14, 3-7 CACC), 47-28, and earn the come-from-behind victory.

Nyack came out and shot 50 percent from the floor in the first half, shooting 14-of-28 as well as 7-of-8 from the foul line to grab a 38-35 lead at the break. The Wildcats only hit on 37.1 percent of their shots, including just 4-of-15 from beyond the three-point arc. The Warriors also out-rebounded the Wildcats, 20-16, in the opening 20 minutes.

The second half was a different story for the Wildcats.

Still trailing 42-39, the Wildcats rattled off nine straight, capped by a Shawn Church three-pointer and a Miles Gillette jumper to take a 51-42 lead with 15:10 left in regulation. The Warriors kept is close, however, clawing back and staying as close as 60-57 with 9:09 showing on the clock.

A Gillette free throw with 7:44 to play started a 19-0 spurt for the Wildcats, as Nick Richards converted an old fashioned three-point play. Danny Walsh hit a three-pointer, while Gillette finished off a dunk, and Vincent Kent hit a jumper throughout the run. Richards gave the Wildcats a 77-57 lead with another jumper with 3:38 to play before another Gillette dunk capped the run to put the Wildcats ahead, 79-57, with 2:37 left on the clock. A Richards steal and dunk put the lid on the contest, as he put the visitors ahead, 82-59, with 1:37 remaining.

The Wildcats went 32-of-61 from the field for the game, shooting 52.5 percent. They hit 8-of 24 from beyond the three-point arc and 10-of-12 from the foul line. Nyack shot 38.2 percent from the field, hitting 7-of-23 from deep and 13-of-17 from the charity stripe.

Gillette led the Wildcats with his third straight and eighth double-double of the year, scoring 20 or more in his third straight game as well. He finished with 24 points and 10 rebounds, shooting 10-of-21 from the floor.

Richards added 21 points in all 40 minutes of actions, shooting 8-of-12 while adding five rebounds, four assists, five steals, and two blocks. Church added 20 points for the Wildcats, also shooting 8-of-12 from the floor while hitting 4-of-5 from deep. Church also had five rebounds and three assists. Jermaine Head dished out a team best seven assists with only one turnover, adding five steals. Kent had two blocks, three steals, and three rebounds for the Wildcats.

The Wildcats will look to make it three in a row while also taking the season series from Holy Family with their next contest. They head to Philadelphia for a CACC South Division contest on Wednesday with an opening tip of 8:00 p.m.