COLCHESTER, Vt. - - The Wilmington University men's basketball team battled back from a 10-point halftime deficit and had the season opener tied with 5:29 to play, but host St. Michael's pulled away late to take the opener of the Delta Hotel Doc Jacobs Tipoff Classic, 75-65, on Saturday afternoon at the Ross Sports Center.
Playing in their first games since the end of the 2019-20 season, the Wildcats' (0-1) shooting touch was a bit off on Saturday, finishing the game shooting 25-of-72 form the floor (34.7 percent) and just 10-of-27 (27 percent) from beyond the three-point arc. The Purple Knights (1-0) out rebounded the Wildcats, 52-36, despite turning the ball over more, 15-10.
A Jordan Jackson three-point gave the Wildcats a 5-2 lead, but then they went cold from the field. The Purple Knights rattled off 10 straight to take a 12-5 lead before Caleb Matthews ended the drought with a three-pointer, 12-8, with 11:37 to play in the half.
The St. Michael's lead grew to as many as 13 points in the first half, 35-22, with 2:19 to play. Justin Thomas hit a jumper before Danny Walsh hit a free throw to get it back to within 10. After a Purple Knights' bucket, and the clock winding down, Kameron Cooper came away with a steal and jumper at the buzzer, sending the Wildcats into the break down, 37-27.
Cooper than came out of halftime and hit a three-pointer. Jordan Harding and Randy Rickards scored six straight points and all of a sudden the Wildcats were within 40-36 early in the second half. Randy Rickards came away with a steal and dunk to pull within two points, 44-42, and Danny Walsh answered a SMC bucket with a three of his own to climb back to within a point, 44-43 with 15:22 left in regulation.
But the Purple Knights went on a 9-0 run to regain a 10-point advantage, 53-43, with 13:01 showing on the clock. Back-to-back threes by Caleb Matthews and Jordan Harding, followed by a pair from the line by Randy Rickards and the Wildcats were back within two, 53-51, with 11:30 to play.
Still trailing by five, Kameron Cooper hit a three-pointer and Caleb Matthews put back an offensive rebound, tying the contest, 59-59, with 7:42 to play.
The Wildcats had a pair of chances to take the lead, but both three-pointers missed the mark. Kameron Cooper retied the game, 61-61, with a jumper, but then the Wildcats went cold from the floor. Uncharacteristically, the Wildcats turned the ball over on their next three possessions, allowing the Purple Knights to regain a seven-point edge.
The Wildcats could only get back to within as few as six points the rest of the way, and Saint Michael's hit their free throws to regain a double digit lead late.
Kameron Cooper led the Wildcats with 18 points, shooting 7-of-9 from the floor, including 4-for-5 from the beyond the three-point arc. Randy Rickards added 10 points and two blocked shots while Jordan Harding and Danny Walsh chipped in with nine points each. Justin Thomas led the way with nine rebounds.
The second half of the Delta Hotel Doc Jacobs Tipoff Classic will take place on Sunday, as the Wildcats take on Assumption. The opening tip is set for 1:00 p.m.