JERSEY CITY, N.J. - - Trailing by 13 points early in the second half, Alliance stormed back and stole a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference cross-divisional contest from the Wilmington University men's basketball team, 72-68, on Friday night on the campus of New Jersey City University.
The Wildcats (8-8, 2-5 CACC) led for the majority of the contest, over 33 minutes in all, as the game only had one lead change and two ties. But that lead change came late in the second half and it went in the favor of Alliance.
Caleb Matthews and Jordan Jackson hit back-to-back three-pointers to give the Wildcats their first double-digit lead of the game, 30-20, with 4:29 left in the first half. Marcus Pierce, earning his first collegiate career start, sent the Wildcats into the locker room with a 39-31 lead, hitting a pull-up jumper with four seconds left.
Justin Thomas put in back-to-back buckets to start the second half and give the Wildcats a 43-31 lead. After Alliance made a jumper, Caleb Matthews hit a three-pointer to give the Wildcats their largest lead of the game, 46-33. Moments later, Randy Rickards finished a feed from Marcus Pierce for a layup to regain a 13-point lead, 48-35, with 16:05 to play in regulation. It would be their largest lead the rest of the way.
Rickards again put in a layup to extend the Wildcats' lead out to 54-42 with 13:26 on the clock, but it would be the last points for the Wildcats over the next 4:57 of game time. During that time, Alliance rattled off 11 straight points and got to within 54-53.
It looked as though Caleb Matthews would swing the momentum back in favor of the Wildcats as he knocked down a three-pointer and was fouled, completing the four-point play to take a 58-53 lead with 8:29 to play. But Alliance continued its run with a layup and a three-pointer, tying the game, 58-58, with 5:47 to play.
Alliance took their only lead of the game on an alley-oop, getting a steal and a dunk to take a 61-60 lead with 5:08 on the clock. The lead went out to five points, 67-62, before Justin Thomas hit a straight-away three-pointer. But a perfectly executed play out of a timeout freed up Joel Bailey for a jumper from the free throw line, as Alliance regained a 70-65 lead with 1:01 to play.
Taalib Holloman drove to the bucket and completed an old-fashioned three-point play to keep the Wildcats in the game, 70-68. The Wildcats got the stop they needed defensively but turned the ball over at the other end of the court, ending the chance at a comeback.
Randy Rickards finished with 17 points on 7-of-9 shooting and 16 rebounds. He also had three steals, two blocked shots, and two assists. Caleb Matthews hit four three-pointers and finished with 17 points. Justin Thomas added 11 points, seven rebounds, and four assists while Marcus Pierce chipped in with eight points and five assists.
The second of the Wildcats' four-game road trip will be on Tuesday night when they take the short trip to Goldey-Beacom. The men tip off at 8:00 p.m. at the Joseph West Jones Center.