LINCOLN UNIVERSITY, Pa. - - An off-shooting night resulted in the Wilmington University's men's basketball team's lowest scoring output of the season in a 77-53 lost to Lincoln University (Pa.) in a road nonconference contest on Thursday night inside Manuel Rivero Gym.
The Wildcats (3-8) shot just 20-for-59 in the game, resulting in 33.9 percent from the floor, including shooting 7-for-25 from beyond the three-point arc. The Wildcats also tied their season high with 21 turnovers in the contest, resulting in the Lions (6-4) scoring 18 points at the other end.
The Lions started the game by scoring the first seven points on their first three shots. The Wildcats answered with six straight points of their own, but the Lions retaliated by taking a 15-6 lead with 12 minutes left in the half. A Caleb Matthews three-pointer sparked a 13-6 run for the Wildcats, as he also capped it with a pair from the line, to get to within 21-19 with 7:55 before the break.
Lincoln closed the half by scoring 16 of the final 22 points of the half, taking their first double-digit lead, 33-23, with 4:03 to play in the half. The Lions grabbed a 37-25 lead at the break.
The Wildcats hit a pair of three-pointers to star the second half to get within eight points, but the Lions answered with eight straight of their own to retake a double-digit lead and take a 47-31 advantage. The Lions' lead grew to as large as 33 points, 74-30, with 5:29 to play before the Wildcats closed on a 13-4 to settle on the final score, 77-53.
Caleb Matthews led the Wildcats with 14 points off the bench, shooting 5-for-8 from the floor including a pair of three-pointers. Kameron Cooper finished with 12 points while grabbing seven rebounds. Randy Rickards scoring eight points while grabbing nine rebounds and blocking three shots.
The Wildcats will look to the friendly confines of the WU Athletics Complex this weekend to break their two-game losing skid. The Wildcats host Lock Haven on Saturday starting with a 2:00 p.m. tip.
