ORANGEBURG, N.Y. - - Nationally ranked Dominican outscored the Wilmington University men's basketball team, 21-11, in the final six minutes to comeback and steal a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference victory form the Wildcats, 73-67, on Saturday afternoon inside the Hennessey Center.
The Wildcats (8-6, 2-3 CACC) led by as many as 12 points late in the first half and led 56-52 with 6:05 to play after Randy Rickards put in a layup. The nationally 16th ranked Chargers (14-1, 6-0 CACC) went on an 8-1 run to take the lead for good down the stretch.
The Chargers came out of the gates and scored the first eight points of the game, as Taalib Holloman scored the first bucket for the Wildcats with 17:13 on the clock. The Wildcats made their move starting with 8:30 to play in the half, as Justin Thomas hit a three-pointer to make it 17-14. Holloman and Thomas laid one in and then Amiri Stewart hit a three-pointer to give the Wildcats a 21-17 lead with 6:40 left in the half. Randy Rickards completed the 12-0 run with a layup.
Thomas dunked one before Jordan Jackson slammed one home on the fast break to put the Wildcats up 31-19 with 3:45 to play before the break. But the Chargers finished the half on a 9-0 run of their own, cutting the Wildcats lead to 31-29 at the break.
Amiri Stewart converted an old-fashioned three-point play to give the Wildcats a 39-33 advantage with 17:09 showing on the board. Jordan Jackson hit the second free throw with 14:38 to play to put the Wildcats up 44-35, but the Chargers found their rhythm to get back into the contest.
The Chargers went on an 8-0 run to get within a single point. Randy Rickards hit back-to-back buckets for the Wildcats to regain a seven-point lead, 50-43, and then hit another jumper to take a 54-45 lead with 8:57 to play. But the Wildcats couldn't put the Chargers away, as they stormed back with another 7-0 run to get to within two points. Rickards put in a layup to go up 56-52 with 6:05 left before Dominican made one final run to put the game away.
The Chargers tied the game, 56-56, before Amiri Stewart made the first of two from the line, giving the Wildcats the 57-56 lead. But it would be the final lead the Wildcats would have. The Chargers scored the next four points and then rattled off seven straight points to gain a 67-59 lead with 52 seconds left.
Justin Thomas led the Wildcats with 16 points while Jordan Jackson and Randy Rickards scored 14 points each. Rickards secured a double-double with 14 rebounds, adding two assists and two steals as well. Amiri Stewart scored 12 points to go with eight rebounds and four assists as well.
The Wildcats return home on Tuesday before going out on a four-game road trip. The Wildcats welcome Georgian Court to the WU Athletics Complex on Tuesday night for an 8:00 p.m. tip-off.