NEWARK, Del. - - An 8-0 run starting with 6:31 left pushed the Goldey-Beacom Lightning to an 83-78 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference South Division victory over the Wilmington University men's basketball team in a battle for sole possession of first place on Tuesday night at the WU Athletics Complex.
The run turned a two-point led by the Wildcats (11-7, 5-2 CACC) into a 72-66 advantage for the Lightning (11-8, 6-1 CACC) with 4:43 showing on the clock. The Wildcats would again get as close as two points with 3:45 to play, but the Lightning was able to keep the Wildcats at an arm's length the rest of the way, breaking the tie atop the CACC South Division standings.
Ash Kemble gave the Wildcats their biggest lead of the night, 17-10, with 11:21 to play in the first half with a three-pointer. The Lightning went on an 8-0 run to briefly take the lead, but then the Wildcats answered right back with an 8-0 run of their own, capped by an Amiri Stewart three-point to regain their largest lead, 25-18, with 7:52 to play.
The Wildcats' biggest run of the game came at the end of the first half, as the Lightning fought back to lead 34-30. An Amiri Stewart three-pointer sparked a 10-0 run as LJ Carter capped it with a driving layup to give the Wildcats a 40-34 lead with 1:57 to play in the half. The Lightning scored the final four points before the break, sending the teams to the lockerroom with the Wildcats leading, 40-38.
The second half saw eight ties and five lead changes, with the first four ties coming in the opening 4:35 of the half. Neither team could gain more than a four-point lead in the first 10 minutes and then the game was tied three more times from the 8:44 mark after a Brycen Williams three-pointer and the 7:18 mark as Skip Burton put in a driving layup to make it 64-64.
Ash Kemble put in a second chance bucket to give the Wildcats a 66-64 lead, but then the Lightning went on their 8-0 run to take control of the contest. Caleb Matthews hit all four free throws in two trips to cut the deficit to 72-70 with 3:45 to play, but the Lightning answered with a three-pointer and a driving layup to regain a 77-70 lead with 2:47 to play. The Wildcats could only get to within four points one more time, as the Lightning held on down the stretch for the victory.
Amiri Stewart led the Wildcats with 22 points on 8-of-13 shooting, adding four rebounds, two assists, and two blocks. Taalib Holloman scored 11 points while LJ Carter came off the bench to score 11 points on 4-of-6 shooting while adding four rebounds. Ash Kemble chipped in with seven points and a team high nine rebounds.
The Lightning scored 20 points of 16 Wilmington turnovers and 16 second chance points on 11 offensive rebounds.
The Wildcats take to the road for their next two contests, first when they travel to Bloomfield on Saturday. The Wildcats tip things off at 3:00 p.m. in Bloomfield, New Jersey.
