NEWARK, Del. - - The Wilmington University men's basketball team shot nearly 60 percent from the field and set a new program record by making 40 free throws, holding on down the stretch to defeat Dominican, 99-95, in a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference cross-divisional contest at the WU Athletics Complex on Saturday afternoon.
The Wildcats (13-12, 6-7 CACC) shot 58.7 percent from the floor, hitting on 27-of-46 for the game while also shooting 40-for-44 from the foul line. It is the third most free throws attempted in the program's NCAA era, but 40 makes from the charity stripe set a new NCAA program record, six more than the previous record.
The Wildcats used the Chargers' (16-9, 7-6 CACC) pressure against them, scoring 29 fast break points in the game.
The Chargers raced out to their largest lead of the game, 18-9, with 12:02 to play in the first half. Trailing 20-13, the Wildcats scored four straight free throws and then Skip Burton hit a three-pointer to tie the game, 20-20. A Caleb Matthews layup gave the Wildcats the lead, 26-24, with 6:33 to play in the half and then the Wildcats started getting out and running. Taalib Holloman threw down a dunk and then another fast-break layup before Hiram Alexander hit two from the foul line and the Wildcats led 36-29, with 3:17 left in the half. Nalik Veasley added. A layup and Holloman scored two from the line to finish the scoring in the half, as the Wildcats took a 40-31 lead into the break.
Amiri Stewart started the second half with a back-door slip and dunk. Taalib Holloman hit all three from the foul line to give the Wildcats a 53-38 lead. Holloman made another layup and then Amiri Stewart got free for another dunk and the Wildcats were up by 17 points, 59-42. Stewart put in a three-point play and then Stewart pulled in a defensive rebound and fed Holloman for another dunk, and the Wildcats had their largest lead of the night, 67-48. They last led by as many as 19 points after a Brycen Williams three-pointer, 84-65, with 6:23 to play.
A 7-1 Charger run brought the visitors to within 10 points, 89-79, and then another three-pointer got the Chargers to single digits, 91-84, with 47 seconds on the clock. A three-point play made it a six-point game, but the Wildcats were able to keep hitting foul shots. The Chargers hit another three-pointer with five seconds left for a five-point game, but Amiri Stewart iced the game with two more free throws at the other end.
Amiri Stewart went 14-for-15 from the foul line and 8-of-10 from the floor for the game, scoring a new career-high 31 points for his second consecutive 30-point game. Stewart added eight rebounds and three assists as well. Taalib Holloman scored 19 points while going 9-of-9 from the foul line, adding three assists, two rebounds, and two steals. Skip Burton added 13 points while Caleb Matthews scored 10 points. Nalik Veasley scored eight points while added a game-high nine rebounds and five assists.
The Wildcats' four-game homestand continues Tuesday when they host Holy Family at the Complex for a CACC South Division contest. The men cap the doubleheader with an 8:00 p.m. in Newark.
