CALIFORNIA, Pa. - - A key 13-0 run in the first half gave the Wilmington University men's basketball team the cushion it needed, defeating California (Pa.), 81-74, on Saturday afternoon inside Hamer Hall.
Leading 21-14 midway through the first half, the Wildcats (3-8) went on a 13-0 run to take their first 20-point lead of the game. It was enough cushion for the rest of the game, as the Vulcans (6-6) could only close the gap to 46-38 at the halftime break and then didn't get it back to within single digits again until the final minute of play.
With the game tied, 10-10, Izaiah Credle and Denim Perkins hit back-to-back three-pointers to give the Wildcats the lead. After three ties and four lead changes prior to that, the Wildcats would not relinquish the lead from there. Jaylin Horsey was fouled on a three-point shot, hitting all three free throws to take a 21-12 lead. After the Vulcans hit a pair from the line, the Wildcats made their game-defining run.
The 13-0 run started with Hamahrie Bowers hitting back-to-back three-pointers and then another three-pointer form Jaylin Horsey. Bowers hit two more from the foul line and Horsey capped the run with two more from the foul line as the Wildcats took a 34-14 lead with 7:18 to play in the first half. The Vulcans cut the deficit all the way to 41-35 with 1:21 to play in the half before Credle hit two from the foul line to make it a 46-38 game at the halftime break.
The Wildcats started the second half with layups from Justin Perez and Tre Hawkins and then Perez hit a three-pointer to take the Wildcats' lead back out to 13. A quick 9-0 spurt gave the Wildcats breathing room once again, starting with a Perez jumper. After a Horsey free throw, the freshman made a three-pointer followed by another three-pointer by Denim Perkins and the Wildcats led 64-44 with 12:37 to play.
The Vulcans tried to cut into the deficit again, using a 10-0 run to get within 64-54 with 7:55 to play, but that's as close as they could get until less than a minute to play. Horsey put in an old-fashioned three-point play to give the Wildcats a 74-60 lead with 2:49 to play and Bowers made it 76-62 with a layup with 1:13 left. Six straight Vulcan points brought the home team to within single digits, but Horsey and Credle hit their free throws down the stretch to clinch the victory.
The Wilmington bench scored 46 of the 81 points, led by Jaylin Horsey's team-high 17 points. Hamahrie Bowers scored 16 points to go with a team-high seven rebounds. Justin Perez scored 11 points and grabbed five rebounds while Izaiah Credle scored 10 points. Denim Perkin chipped in with nine points, six assists, and four rebounds.
The Wildcats have two more games to play before the Holiday Break, starting with a game at New Haven on Wednesday night. The opening tip against the Chargers is set for 7:00 p.m.