WORCESTER, Mass. - - Assumption used a strong opening half to win its eighth straight game, defeating the Wilmington University men's basketball team, 86-72, on Friday afternoon inside Laska Gymnasium for the final game of the 2024 calendar year.
The Wildcats (3-10) made a season-low two three-pointers in the game, shooting 2-for-16 overall. They shot nearly 51 percent from the floor inside the arc, contributing to 52 of their 72 points. They also went 14-of-24 from the foul line against the Greyhounds (8-2).
After Tre Hawkins made a pair of free throws to bring the Wildcats to within 7-6 in the early going, the Greyhounds' Jamal Barnes hit back-to-back three-pointers as the home team went on a 10-0 run to take a 17-7 lead with 14:09 to play in the half. Denim Perkins ended the run with a pull up jumper, but then the Greyhounds went on another 7-0 spurt to take a 24-9 lead with 12:08 showing on the clock. A 6-0 spurt gave the Greyhounds a 30-13 lead and then back-to-back three-pointers by Assumption pushed the lead out to 19 points with 6:13 left in the half. The Wildcats cut the deficit to as few as 14 before the Greyhounds pushed the lead back out to as large as 20, taking a 50-31 lead into the break.
A 7-2 run by Manir Waller and Tre Hawkins saw the Wildcats close the gap to 18 points early in the second half, but that number would be as close as the Wildcats would be able to get within until the final stages. The Greyhound lead ballooned to as large as 26 points before the Wildcats finished the final 8:43 of the game with a 24-13 spurt to settle on the final score, 86-72.
Tre Hawkins led the Wildcats with 21 points on 9-of-16 shooting, tying a game-high with six rebounds as well. Manir Waller tied his season's best with 16 points on 7-of-13 shooting, tying for the game-high with six rebounds as well. Justin Perez scored 13 points while adding five rebounds and two steals. Denim Perkins and Hamahrie Bowers each scored eight points for the Wildcats.
The Wildcats return to game action on Saturday, January 4, when they host the College of Staten Island. The opening tip is set for 3:00 p.m. at the WU Athletics Complex.