PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - - Down by as many as 14 points in the first half, the Wilmington University men's basketball team came roaring back and defeated Holy Family, 76-75, in a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference South Division battle at the Campus Center on Saturday afternoon.
A major second half comeback saw the Wildcats (7-18, 5-8 CACC) erase a 13-point lead, eventually taking the lead with 9:13 to play. The Tigers than had two chances in the final 21 seconds to win the game, but both three-pointers were off the mark as the Wildcats stole the contest and stayed in the CACC South Division race with the win.
The Tigers used a 12-4 run to take a 22-12 lead with 10:07 to play in the first half. A Justin Perez three-pointer brought the Wildcats to within 29-22, but then another 9-2 spurt gave the Tigers their largest lead of the game, 38-24, with 3:10 to play before the break. A quick 6-0 run by the Wildcats cut the deficit in half but then the Tigers got five back from the foul line on a foul and two technical fouls. Jaylin Horsey hit a three-pointer with six seconds left as the Tigers held a 47-37 lead at the break.
The Tigers took a 53-40 lead with 16:51 to play after a 6-3 start to the second half but then a 13-2 Wildcat run brought them back into the contest. Justin Perez and Jaylin Horsey hit three-pointers in the run, including Horsey's to bring the Wildcats to within 55-53. The teams traded buckets until back-to-back buckets by Perez and Tre Hawkins gave the Wildcats a 62-61 lead with 9:13 to play. That sparked an 11-0 Wildcat run with a three-pointer by Denim Perkins and capped by two free throws by Justin Perez to take a 69-61 lead with 7:07 showing on the clock.
Jaylin Horsey gave the Wildcats their largest lead with a three-pointer, 72-63, before Izaiah Credle's layup made it a 74-65 lead with 5:26 6o play. But the Tigers didn't roll over, going on a 10-2 run over the remainder of the game to close the gap to within 76-75 with 1:55 to play.
Neither team scored in their final possessions, but it wasn't without their chances, including the Tigers' two three-pointers on the final possession thanks to an offensive rebound.
Jaylin Horsey hit five three-pointers to lead the Wildcats with 20 points off the bench, going 5-for-11 from deep and 5-of-6 from the foul line. Izaiah Credle scored 16 points while going 9-of-13 from the foul line, adding a team high 10 rebounds for the double-double. Justin Perez added 14 points on 5-of-8 shooting, adding four rebounds. Tre Hawkins scored 13 points as well. Denim Perkins scored nine points while adding seven assists and seven rebounds.
The Wildcats have a week off before their next contest, hosting Chestnut Hill next Saturday at the WU Athletics Complex. The men tip things off at 3:00 p.m.