WALTHAM, Mass. - - The 12th ranked team in the country shot 53.3 percent from the floor as Saint Anselm picked up an 86-63 nonconference victory over the Wilmington University men's basketball team on Saturday to close out the 2019-20 opening weekend inside the Charles A. Dana Center.
The Hawks (2-0) hit on 9-of-24 from behind the three-point territory and out-rebounded the Wildcats (0-2), 45-25, for the game. The Wildcats shot 35.4 percent from the floor, shooting 7-of-19 from deep.
Freshman Isaiah Daniels-Porter hit a three-pointer to give the Wildcats an early 6-2 lead. Jermaine Head hit a jumper to go up 8-5, but then the Hawks went on a 7-0 run to take the lead, 12-8. The Hawks would never relinquish the lead. Another 10-0 run put the NE10 team up 22-10, and Saint Anselm took their largest lead of the half, 32-18, with 4:40 to play.
Jermaine Head hit a three-pointer to stat a 7-0 run, cutting the deficit in half to 32-25 with 1:54 before the break. But the Hawks answered with a three-pointer, and had the final two buckets of the half to head into the break leading 39-27.
Jordan Harding hit a three early in the second half to bring the Wildcats to within 41-35, but Saint Anselm responded by reopening a 51-37 lead with 12:59 showing on the clock. Taalib Holloman brought the Wildcats back to within 11, 56-45, and the Cats were able to keep it at an 11-point game a couple other times, the last on a Danny Walsh jumper with 8:01 to play, 61-50. But again, the Hawks had an answer, going on a 7-0 run to force Wilmington in a timeout.
The Hawks took their largest lead of the game, 83-57, with 1:59 to play before finishing out the game to win 86-63.
Jermaine Head led the Wildcats with 19 points, hitting three three-pointers while adding four boards, two assists, and two steals. Isaiah Daniels-Porter added 12 points and a team high six rebounds. The Hawks had five players in double figures, led by two players with 17 points each.
The Wildcats return to action on Thursday, as they remain on the road to play Millersville in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. The opening toss is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.