ORANGEBURG, N.Y. - - The Wilmington University men's basketball team raced out to a quick 13-1 lead, but Dominican stormed back to lead by halftime, continuing on to take the 76-69 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference cross-divisional contest inside the Hennessey Center on Saturday afternoon.
The Wildcats (4-11, 2-4 CACC) made nine three-pointers and shot 41.9 percent from the floor for the game, but the Dominican (12-3, 5-1 CACC) offense shot 54.9 percent from the floor, including 8-of-17 from deep for the victory. The Chargers got 37 points from their bench, as compared to the Wildcats' 19 points off the bench, all from one player.
Danny Walsh started the game with back-to-back three-pointers, while Jermaine Head made it three in a row with another deep ball and a 9-0 lead with 16:07 showing on the clock. The Chargers finally got on the board with a free throw with 15:43 to play in the half, but then Walsh and Taalib Holloman hit back-to-back layups to grab a 13-1 lead with 14:56 left in the half.
Jordan Harding hit a three-pointer to keep a 16-6 lead and Jermaine Head sank another deep ball to put the visitors back in front, 23-12, with 9:57 before the break. The Chargers went on an 8-0 run to get within 23-20, but Harding hit another three-pointer and the Wildcats still head a 29-22 lead with 4:51 left. Still leading 32-26 with 3:06 left, the Chargers scored the final seven points of the half, including a jumper with two seconds left, to take a 33-32 lead into the break.
The Chargers hit back-to-back three-pointer to start the second half, and used another 7-0 run to jump out to as large as a 48-37 lead with 13:29 left in regulation. Kam Cooper had the game within eight points with a jumper, but the Chargers scored the next five points to take their largest lead of the game, 63-50, with 7:46 showing on the clock. The Wildcats again got within seven points, but the Chargers opened up a 13-point lead once again, 69-56, with 3:59 to play.
Jermaine Head put in an old-fashioned three-point play to close the game to within 73-65 with 1:23 left, and then Danny Walsh connected with a steal and layup to close the gap to 75-69 with 33 ticks left. Jermaine Head came away with another steal on the ensuing possession, but missed the layup to get even closer. The Chargers hit on one of their two ensuing free throws, but the Wildcats missed their three-pointer to get any closer, ending in a 76-69 loss.
Kam Cooper came off the bench to score 19 points, adding four rebounds, and four steals. Jermaine Head had 19 points with three assists while Jordan Harding hit three three-pointers and finished with 13 points and 10 rebounds for the double-double. Danny Walsh added 12 points as well.
Dominican's Jalen Burgess had a double-double with 12 points and 15 rebounds while Jonathan Garcia and Tavon Ginyard added 17 points each.
The Wildcats return to action on Wednesday afternoon, staying on the road as they head to Chestnut Hill. They tip-off at approximately 8:00 p.m.