ORANGEBURG, N.Y. - - The Wilmington University men's basketball team dropped its second consecutive game to a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference North Division stronghold on Saturday, falling at Dominican, 72-63, at the Hennessy Center.
Much like against Bloomfield last Saturday, the Wildcats (14-10, 9-6 CACC) fell to a D2SIDA East Regionally Ranked opponent, as the Chargers (16-7, 10-4 CACC) were placed eighth in the latest regional poll.
The Chargers outshot the Wildcats, 47.4 percent to 41.9 percent, for the game, and hit one ore three-pointer and six more free throws to provide the difference in the contest.
The Wildcats got off to a hot start in the contest as Paul Medlin capped a 9-4 run with a dunk down the middle of the lane to give the visitors their largest lead of the game, 21-15, with 10:38 left in the first half.
Jermaine Head hit a three-pointer to keep the Wildcats ahead, 27-22, but the Chargers battled back and eventually took a 30-29 advantage with 4:45 left in the half. They produced a 10-0 run late in the half to grab a 35-29 lead before Medlin ended the half's scoring with a jumper, 35-31, with 3:19 remaining.
A quick 7-0 run early in the second half put the Wildcats back in front, 38-37, and the Wildcats would once again go ahead, 44-43, with a Shawn Church jumper with 14:15 left in regulation. But that would be the final lead for the visitors in the game. Miles Gillette tied the game with a jumper, 48-48, but a 7-0 run gave the home team a 55-48 lead that they would never relinquish.
The Chargers' lead grew to as large as 62-52 with 7:50 showing on the clock. Five straight points from Gillette brought the Wildcats to within 64-61 with 3:59 left, and the Wildcats were once again to within three as late as 2:51 to play. The Wildcats had two possessions to cut deeper into the lead, but a turnover and a missed three-pointer kept the visitors at three points behind with just over a minute left.
Head led all scorers with 23 points, adding nine rebounds, six assists, and three steals in the contest. Gillette chipped in with 15 points and nine rebounds while Church added 11 points and seven rebounds. Medlin was the final Wildcat to reach double figures, coming in off the bench to score 10 points. The Wildcats were without CACC leading scorer Nick Richards who was out with an injury suffered during practice.
With four games left in the regular season, the Wildcats remain in third place in the South Division and one game in the loss column ahead of USciences. Three of their final four games are at home.
Their first home game of the stretch is their next game, as they welcome Chestnut Hill to the WU Athletics Complex on Tuesday night. The opening tip is scheduled for approximately 8:00 p.m.