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NEWARK, Del. - - Trailing by four points midway through the first half, the Wilmington University men's basketball team used a 14-0 run to flip the momentum against Georgian Court, holding of the Lions for an 86-79 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference victory at the WU Athletics Complex on Wednesday night.
The Wildcats (10-13, 7-7 CACC) snapped a four-game losing streak by hanging on against the Lions (4-18, 3-11 CACC), leading by 16 points as late as with 7:53 left in regulation before securing the win late.
But it was a 14-0 run in the first half that swung the momentum in favor of the home team on Wednesday night, as the Wildcats turned a 22-18 deficit into a 32-22 lead. It only took a matter of 3:49 in game time for the Wildcats to rattle off the 14-point run, starting with a Jermaine Head old-fashioned three-point play. Jordan Harding put in another old-fashioned three-point play to give the Wildcats a 30-22 lead before Head finished off the spurt with a layup, 32-22, with 6:56 left in the first half.
The Lions closed to within six, but Thomas Farrior hit a jumper and Jordan Harding nailed a three in the closing seconds, sending the Wildcats into the break leading 46-35.
Georgian Court cut the deficit to seven points before Danny Walsh started a run to give the Wildcats their largest lead of the half. Walsh hit a three-pointer with 13:57 to play as Jermaine Head added a layup for the 13-point lead. Walsh capped the run with another three-pointer, giving the Wildcats a 66-50 lead with 12:06 showing on the clock.
Walsh hit another three-pointer with 8:04 left in regulation to put the Wildcats up 75-59, but the Lions wouldn't go away so easily. Three straight three-pointers brought the Lions to within 75-68 with 6:36 to play, on their way to scoring 10 straight.
Danny Sullivan ended the drought with three-pointer for the Wildcats and then drove the lane for the tough two with 3:09 to play, regaining a double digit lead, 82-72.
Georgian again cut it to six with 2:35 to play, but didn't hit another shot until there was eight seconds left in the game. The Wildcats hit just enough free throws down the stretch to keep the Lions at bay and end, 86-79.
Jermaine Head was two assists away from a triple-double, scoring 22 points to go with a team high 14 rebounds, eight assists, and two steals. Thomas Farrior added 19 points and eight rebounds while Danny Walsh hit four three-pointers and finished with 18 points. Jordan Harding chipped in with 17 points, knocking down three three-pointers.
With the win, coupled with a Holy Family loss, the Wildcats and Tigers are now tied for third in the South Division at 7-7. They are also one game behind Goldey-Beacom in the loss column for second place. The Wildcats travel to Bloomfield for their next game, as the Bears are tied atop the North Division. The Wildcats and Bears will play on Saturday with a 3:00 p.m. opening tip.
