BRIDGEPORT, Conn. - - A bucket with 21 seconds left sank the Wilmington University men's basketball team as Bridgeport came back for a 72-71 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference victory on Saturday afternoon at Hubbell Gym.
The Wildcats (7-5, 1-2 CACC) were down by as many as 15 points early in the second half but rallied and even took as large as a seven-point lead late in the contest. But the Purple Knights (7-6, 3-2 CACC) took the lead with 21 seconds left and the Wildcats couldn't find an answer with their final possession.
Taalib Holloman hit a three-pointer to give the Wildcats a 7-6 lead in the early going, but the Purple Knights answered with a 9-0 run to grab a 15-7 lead with 12:15 left in the first half. Randy Rickards closed the gap to 15-13 but Bridgeport was able to keep the lead for the rest of the first half. A tip-in and a layup made it 23-15 and another 5-0 spurt gave the Purple Knights a 30-19 advantage with 3:10 to play. Bridgeport ended the first half scoring with a dunk and took a 34-24 lead into the break.
Bridgeport took their largest lead of the game early in the second half, hitting a three-pointer to take a 39-24 lead with 19:06 to play. Taalib Holloman started the comeback with one of his six three-pointers in the game and then he hit two more to bring the Wildcats to within 43-35 with 16:04 showing on the clock.
A Brycen Williams three-point brought the Wildcats to within four, 44-40, before a Randy Rickards steal and dunk made it 44-42 with 14:45 to play. Rickards then tied the game and gave the Wildcats the lead with layups, 46-44.
The Wildcats used an 11-3 run to take their largest lead of the game. Holloman made a layup to take a 52-51 lead and then slammed one home for the 56-51 lead and hit another three-pointer to give the Wildcats a 59-54 lead. Rickards then hit two free throws to give the Wildcats a 61-54 lead with 6:05 to play.
Jordan Jackson hit a three-point for a seven-point lead with 5:17 left but then the Purple Knights answered with a three-pointer and an old-fashioned three-point play to make it a 64-63 game with 4:28 to play. The Purple Knights' final push came as the Wildcats led, 71-56, getting a layup and then a three-pointer to get within 71-70 with 1:00 left.
The Wildcats turned the ball over and out of a timeout, the Purple Knights scored a floater with 21 seconds left to take the lead. The Wildcats set up a play out of a timeout, but the ball was knocked off Matthews' knee and out of bounds as Bridgeport escaped.
Taalib Holloman hit six three-pointers and finished with 26 points on 10-of-13 shooting. Randy Rickards collected a double-double with 22 points and 11 rebounds, shooting 7-of-11 from the field.
Bridgeport benefitted from 20 offensive rebounds, pouring in 22 second-chance points.
The Wildcats begin 2023 on their home court as they host Holy Family on Wednesday night. They cap the CACC doubleheader with an 8:00 p.m. tipoff.