NEWARK, Del. - - A big second half wasn't enough for the Wilmington University men's basketball team as Jefferson held on, 96-88, for a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference South Division victory on Wednesday night inside the WU Athletics Complex.
The Rams' victory splits the season series between the two programs, with each team winning on the road. The Wildcats defeated the Rams, 80-63, back in December. Jefferson now has a firm grasp on second place in the CACC South Division with an 8-4 record while the Wildcats are in fourth place in the South Division with a 5-7 record.
Jefferson started red hot, shooting 5-of-6 from the floor to open a 12-3 lead. They took their first double-digit lead, 24-14, with 11:03 to play in the first half, but then the Wildcats went on an 11-2 run, getting three-pointers from Taalib Holloman, Brycen Williams, Holloman again, and LJ Carter to make it just a 29-26 deficit with 6:58 to play.
But then out of a timeout, the Rams went on a 17-0 run, widening the gap to as large as 46-26. Brycen Williams hit a three-pointer and Caleb Matthews ended the half with a bucket, but the Wildcats were down 48-31 at the break.
Asher Kemble made a jumper to cut the deficit to 12 points, 63-51, with 12:53 to play and then had another jumper to make it a 69-58 game with 10:09 left. But the Rams had an answer for every run, not allowing the Wildcats to get within single digits until a steal and high-flying dunk by Amiri Stewart make it a 79-71 ballgame with 6:19 to play. A Stewart three-point got them a point closer, 83-76 with 4:41 showing on the clock, but the Rams pushed it back out to double-digits.
LJ Carter hit a three-pointer with 2:43 left to bring the Wildcats to within 88-80, and then two more from the foul like to get within 89-82, with 1:37 to play in regulation. Nalik Veasley grabbed an offensive rebound and was fouled, making one from the line, bringing the Wildcats to as close as they've been since early in the first half, 89-83, with 1:14 to play. But the Rams answered with a layup and four free throws, pushing the lead back out to double digits with too little time left for the Wildcats.
Amiri Stewart finished with a game-high 30 points, shooting 7-of-11 from the floor and 14-of-20 from the foul line. He added six assists, three rebounds, and two steals as well. Taalib Holloman scored 16 points to go with four assists, and three rebounds while LJ Carter came off the bench to score 16 points and add two rebounds. Skip Burton was the final Wildcat in double digits with 12 points, adding four rebounds, two steals, and two assists.
The Wildcats' four-game homestand continues Saturday when they host Dominican for another CACC matchup. The men cap the CACC doubleheader at the WU Athletics Complex with an opening tip scheduled for 3:00 p.m.
