WATERBURY, Conn. - - The Wilmington University men's basketball team rallied in the second half to tie the score, but Post went on a 26-10 run to end the game, earning the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference cross divisional contest, 73-55, on Saturday inside the Drubner Center.
Trailing by 13 points at the halftime break, the Wildcats (4-11, 1-4 CACC) stormed out of the locker room on a 20-7 run to tie the game, 47-47, with 11:48, but the Eagles (8-6, 4-0 CACC) answered with an 11-0 run of their own to regain control.
The Eagles had as large as a 17-point lead in the first half before the Wildcats began to whittle into the deficit. A Justin Thomas jumper brought the Wildcats to within 10 points with a minute to play in the half, but the Eagles hit a three-pointer in the final seconds, taking a 13-point lead into the break, 40-27.
Another Justin Thomas jumper brought the Wildcats to within single digits with 15:54 to play in regulation and then a Danny Walsh layup had the Wildcats to within 42-35. Nalik Veasley converted an old-fashioned three-point play to bring the Wildcats to within 44-40, and then Taalib Holloman hit a three-pointer to get the Wildcats as close as two points, 47-45, with 12:11 on the clock.
After an Eagles' turnover, Nalik Veasley put in a layup to tie the game, 47-47, but then the Eagles scored the next six points to regain the lead and momentum.
Danny Walsh put in a layup to get to within 54-50 with 7:25 to play, but the Eagles answered with am 11-0 run on their home court, taking a commanding 65-50 lead with 4:17 left in regulation.
Nalik Veasley came off the bench to lead the Wildcats with 14 points while grabbing six rebounds. Randy Rickards and Danny Walsh scored 11 points each while Justin Thomas added 10 points. Walsh now has 994 career points.
Randy Rickards grabbed a game-high 18 rebounds, the most in a game for the Wildcats since Antonio Sherrod grabbed 20 at Chestnut Hill on February 7, 2008. The 18 rebounds are second most to Sherrod's 20 in a game in the program's NCAA era.
The Wildcats return to action on Tuesday night as they host crosstown rival Goldey-Beacom at the WU Athletics Complex. The men are scheduled to tip-off at 8:00 p.m.