NEWARK, Del. - - The nationally ranked No. 11/14 Pace Setters were too much for the Wilmington University men's basketball team on Tuesday night, as the high-powered offense produced a 99-60 nonconference victory at the at WU Athletics Complex.
The Wildcats (2-8) took a 27-25 lead with 6:00 minutes to play in the first half, hanging tough with the undefeated Setters (10-0). But then Pace used an 18-4 run to close out the half and extended the run into the second half, starting the period on a 14-6 spurt to put the game out of reach. In that 10:20 minute span, the Setters used a 32-10 run overall to distance themselves.
Justin Perez scored the first eight points for the Wildcats, including a pair of three pointers to start the game. Jihad Simpson had a bucket in the paint to make it 10-7 and then Manir Waller forced a steal and easy layup to put the Wildcats ahead, 12-7 with 14:26 to play. Another Justin Perez three-pointer gave the Wildcats their largest lead of the game, 15-9, with 12:31 showing on the clock in the first half.
Pace answered with a 9-0 run but the Wildcats continued to hang tough with Hamahrie Bowers put back an offensive rebound for a three-point play and then another free throw to tie the game, 21-21, with 8:34 left in the first. Jaylin horsey hit a three-pointer for the 24-22 lead and then Jihad Simpson hit a three from the top of the key to give the Wildcats a 27-25 lead with 6:00 showing on the clock. Pace started their game-defining run with a 10-0 spurt and then used another 8-2 run to close out the half, taking a 43-31 lead into the break.
Pace then came out in the second half and scored the first four points in route to a 14-6 run to take their first 20-point lead of the game, 57-37, with 15:40 left in regulation. A 19-0 run gave the Setters an 86-45 lead before they settled on the final score, 99-60.
The Setters shot 73.3 percent from the floor in the second half, hitting 7-of-10 from deep. They shot 66.1 percent (39-for-59) for the game. The Wildcats shot 36.2 percent from the floor for the game, including 9-of-30 from deep.
Justin Perez scored 11 of his team high 13 in the first half, shooting 5-for-8 overall and 3-for-5 from deep. Jaylin Horsey scored nine points in his first collegiate career start. Jihad Simpson scored eight points with a team high seven rebounds while Hamahrie Bowers and Dorien Johnson scored eight points each as well.
Pace was ranked No. 11 in this week's NABC National Poll and No. 14 in the D2CSC National Poll heading into the game.
Tuesday was the final home game of the 2024 calendar year for the Wildcats, as they hit the road for three games prior to the Holiday Break. The road trip starts with a game at California (Pa.) on Saturday with a 3:00 p.m. tip-off against the Vulcans.
