PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - - The Wilmington University men's basketball team had their best shooting afternoon of the season, pouring in 52.9 percent of their shots in a 91-60 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference South Division victory at USciences on Saturday afternoon.
The win, coupled with a Georgian Court loss at Goldey-Beacom, puts the Wildcats (10-16, 8-9 CACC) two games ahead of the Lions and Holy Family in third place in the South Division with two games to play. The 31-point margin is also the team's largest margin of victory in a road game in the program's NCAA era.
The Wildcats started fast, scoring the first eight points of the game. USciences (6-19, 4-14 CACC) came back to eventually take a 12-11 lead and again at 15-13, before the Wildcats made their mark. Kam Cooper hit back-to-back three-pointers to take a 19-15 lead, starting a 10-0 run for the Wildcats. The Wildcats took their first double-digit lead with a Jermaine Head layup, 27-17, with 6:54 to play in the half, as back-to-back layups by the senior put the Wildcats up 15, 34-19, moments later with 5:20 to play.
Jordan Harding hit a three-pointer to put the Wildcats up by their largest margin of 18, 37-19, before another three-pointer, this time by Taalib Holloman gave the Wildcats their first 20-point lead, 42-22, with 2:54 to play in the half. Danny Walsh ended the half with another three-pointer, sending the Wildcats into the break leading 45-24.
The Wildcats hit nine three-pointers in the first half, shooting 17-for-32 (53.1 percent) from the floor overall. They were able to hold the Devils to just 30 percent shooting, including 2-of-10 from deep, and forced 11 turnovers.
A Danny Walsh three-pointer grew the lead to 26 early in the second half, 52-26, before Jordan Harding hit another three-pointer with 14:36 left to put the Wildcats up 27, 63-36. The Wildcats took their first 30-point lead with 11:06 left in regulation, as Harding hit another three-pointer, and the Wildcats too their largest lead of the game, 32, on a Jermaine Head fast break layup, 73-41, with 10:13 showing on the clock.
The Devils could only cut the deficit to as few as 26 the rest of the way, as Taalib Holloman hit a three-pointer in the final minute to settle the score, putting the Wildcats up 91-60.
The previous largest road victory margin was 26 when the Wildcats defeated Washington Adventist, 91-65, on January 21, 2010. They also defeated Georgian Court on the road, 85-60, on December 10, 2017.
Jermaine Head had the near triple-double, scoring 26 points on 12-of-19 shooting, adding eight assists, and seven rebounds. He now stands just six points away from tying Tyaire Ponzo-Meek's all-time scoring record of 1,808 points.
Jordan Harding hit six three-pointers and scored 22 points, adding seven rebounds in the win. Danny Walsh hit four three-pointers to score 18 points, adding eight assists as well.
The Wildcats can clinch a playoff spot in their next contest, as they head to Georgian Court on Wednesday night. Tip-off is set for 8:00 p.m. in Lakewood, New Jersey.