LOCK HAVEN, Pa. - - An 18-5 run midway through the second half pushed Lock Haven to a 74-66 nonconference victory over the Wilmington University men's basketball team on Monday night inside Thomas Fieldhouse.
It was an off-shooting night for both squads, as neither team shot over 40 percent for the game and the Wildcats (1-5) had a game high 32.3 percent shooting from three-point territory.
Denim Perkins put in a layup with 13:54 to play in the second half to give the Wildcats a 45-43 lead, but then the Eagles (3-5) rallied back with an 18-5 run over the next 5:07 of game play to take an 11-point lead, 61-50. A quick 8-0 run brought the Wildcats to within 69-66 with 1:05 left, but the Eagles hit 5-of-6 from the free throw line down the stretch to close out the contest.
Trailing 21-19 late in the first half, the Wildcats hit three a pair of three-pointers in route to a 10-0 run to grab a 29-22 lead with 2:23 to play before the half. Skip Burton made it 31-25 with a layup but then the Eagles answered with a. layup of their own to send the game into the break with the Wildcats leading 31-27.
Isaiah Credle hit a three-pointer to start the second half, but then the Eagles used a 9-0 run to take the lead, 36-34. The teams went on the see-saw for the next few possessions before Denim Perkins put in a layup to give the Wildcats the 45-43 lead with 13:54 to play. The Wildcats went 2-for-12, including 1-for-5 from three-point land during the Eagles' 18-5 run that turned the game over to the home team.
Manir Waller led the Wildcats with 14 points and eight rebounds, adding two steals and two blocked shots. Tre Hawkins had 12 points and four assists while Skip Burton scored 10 points to go with six rebounds and five assists. Just Perez, Denim Perkins, and Jihad Simpson all scored nine points with Perkins adding seven steals and four assists.
The Wildcats' four-game road trip through the PSAC concludes on Saturday as they travel up to Kutztown to close out their November schedule. The game is set for a 4:00 p.m. tip-off against the Golden Bears.