ROCKVILLE CENTRE, N.Y. - - A 10-0 run midway through the second half allowed the Wilmington University men's basketball team to distance itself in a 73-62 nonconference victory on the road at Molloy on Wednesday night.
The Wildcats (10-9) led the contest for all but a minute and 13 seconds, leading by as many as 14 points late in the first half. But with the Lions (7-14) closing the gap to as few as 50-48 with 12:28 to play in the game, the Wildcats broke off a 10-0 to lead regain control and lead 60-48 with 9:57 left in the game.
The Lions took a brief 2-0 lead with their first shot of the game, but Taalib Holloman scored on the Wildcats' ensuing possession and then Randy Rickards hit two from the foul line to give the Wildcats the early lead. The game would never be tied again, and the Wildcats wouldn't relinquish the lead the rest of the way.
Amiri Stewart and Holloman hit back-to-back three-pointers and then Holloman hit another jumper to give the Wildcats their first 10-point lead of the game, 14-4, with 16:40 to play in the half. Holloman started a quick 7-0 run for the Wildcats with another three-pointer before Marcus Pierce and Kaleb Hedgepeth put in layups to give the Wildcats a 26-15 lead. Amiri Stewart gave the Wildcats their largest lead of the game, 31-17, with a three-pointer with 7:23 to play before the half.
The Lions closed the gap to the five-point game at the break, however, 36-31.
Molloy started the second half on a 7-4 run to close the gap to 40-38. Amiri Stewart settled things down with a layup and then a fastbreak dunk to give the Wildcats a 44-38 lead with 15:49 to play.
The Lions were keeping the game close, using a layup to get within 50-48 with 12:28 to play. But then Kaleb Hedgepeth sparked a 10-0 run with a three-pointer to put the game away. Skip Burton hit a three-pointer followed by a Molloy turnover and a Hedgepeth layup. Skip Burton came away with a steal and Amiri Stewart put in the layup with 9:57 to play to give the Wildcats a 60-48 lead with 9:57 to play.
Skip Burton hit a three-pointer with 3:15 showing on the clock and then Taalib Holloman picked up a steal and tossed it ahead to a breaking Randy Rickards. Rickards slammed it home for the quick 5-0 spurt to give the Wildcats a 71-57 lead with three minutes to play.
Taalib Holloman led the Wildcats with 18 points on 7-of-12 shooting, adding four steals. Amiri Stewart scored 17 points with nine rebounds, three assists, and two steals. Skip Burton set a new season high with 13 points, hitting three three-pointers. Randy Rickards finished with eight points, eight rebounds, and a team high six assists.
As a team, the Wildcats went 8-of-26 from beyond the three-point line and turned 14 offensive rebounds into 14 second chance points proving to be the difference.
The win was head coach Dan Burke's 99th of his WilmU coaching career.
Wednesday ended the Wildcats' four-game road trip as they return home on Saturday to face defending CACC Tournament Champion Felician at the WU Athletics Complex. The men tip things off starting at 3:00 p.m.