LAKEWOOD, N.J. - - A buzzer beating three-pointer stole a victory away from the Wilmington University men's basketball team, as the dagger gave Georgian Court the 73-72 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference South Division victory on Monday night at the Wellness Center.
For the second straight game the Wildcats (4-14, 1-7 CACC) needed to make a second half comeback, this time completing the comeback and taking a late lead. But the Lions (3-14, 2-7 CACC) never quit, getting a final look and hitting a three-pointer as the buzzer sounded to steal the 73-72 victory.
Ethan Tarte made a layup to give the Wildcats an early 4-3 lead, but the Lions scored with 17:51 showing on the clock in the first half to retake the lead. They would hold onto that lead until the 5:55 mark of the second half, growing their lead to as large as 16 points late in the first half.
After Justin Thomas hit a pair from the free throw line midway through the first half, a Lion jumper and a free throw gave the home team its first double digit lead of the game, 27-17. The Lions hit a three-pointer and answered with another layup to take a 38-24 lead and then took their largest lead of the game, 43-27, with 1:07 to play in the half with a three-pointer.
Early in the second half, Caleb Matthews hit back-to-back three-pointers and dished a no-look pass to Randy Rickards for an 8-0 run, bringing the Wildcats to within 50-44 with 15:44 to play. Matthews and Thomas then hit back-to-back jumpers to claw even closer, 51-48, with 12:54 showing on the clock.
But the Lions answered back and regained a nine-point lead before Justin Thomas took over. He went on a 6-0 run of his own, and then Randy Rickards had a put back dunk, with a foul, to bring the Wildcats to within 59-58 with 5:55 to play. After the play, the Lions were given a technical foul, and Danny Walsh and Randy Rickards hit all three of the free throws to take a 61-59 lead.
Danny Walsh made four more from the foul line and then Justin Thomas made a layup and the Wildcats had their largest lead of the game, 67-60, with 3:49 to play in regulation.
An old-fashioned three-point play started an 8-0 run for the Wildcats however, as the three-pointer gave the Lions a 68-67 lead with 2:41 to play. Danny Walsh hit an elbow jumper to regain the lead and then hit two from the foul line for the 71-68 lead with 24 seconds to play.
The Lions hit a pair from the foul line and immediately fouled Walsh again. Walsh was 8-of-8 going to the line on the day and made the first. But his second was off the mark, giving the Lions one last chance.
The home team decided to go for the win and the straight away contested three-pointer was nothing but net, giving the Lions the win, 73-72.
Danny Walsh led the Wildcats with 19 points while Justin Thomas came off the bench to score 18 points and five rebounds. Randy Rickards and Caleb Matthews scored 11 points each with Rickards added 10 rebounds for the double-double.
The Wildcats will look to get off to a better start when they return to the court on Wednesday night. They will host Thomas Jefferson at the WU Athletics Complex in another CACC South Division contest starting at 8:00 p.m.