COLCHESTER, Vt. - - A quick start allowed Saint Michael's to lead wire-to-wire in an 86-76 nonconference victory over the Wilmington University men's basketball team on Tuesday night inside the Ross Sports Center in the final action before the NCAA mandatory break.
The Purple Knights (8-2) raced out to a 9-0 lead and led by as many as 23 points, despite the Wildcats (6-5) battling back multiple times to get to within striking distance. Saint Michael's outrebounded the Wildcats, 53-36, including 20 offensive rebounds which led to 25 second chance points.
Despite the slow start, the Wildcats fought all the back to within 23-21 with an 8-0 run, bookended by a pair of three-pointers from Caleb Matthews with 8:46 to play in the first half. The Purple Knights answered with a 12-4 run of their own, regaining a double-digit lead, 35-25, late in the half. An old-fashioned three-point play sent the Purple Knights into the halftime break with a 40-27 lead.
Saint Michael's started the second half as they did the game, using an 8-2 spurt to take a 48-29 lead. The Purple Knights went on to take their biggest lead of the game, 23 points, at 55-32. The Wildcats began to claw its way back into the game, using a 14-4 run, capped by another Caleb Matthews three-pointer, 59-46, with 9:37 to play.
A long three-pointer by Amiri Stewart and then a steal and a Hiram Alexander layup saw the Wildcats get within 10 once again, 64-54, with 7:58 showing on the clock. But the Wildcats couldn't get any closer, as the Purple Knights rattled off the next six points to regain a 70-54 lead.
Wilmington continued to fight and claw, staying within striking distance until four straight points by Skip Burton had the Wildcats to within single digits, 82-73, with 1:18 left to play. But the Wildcats couldn't capitalize on their next possession and the Purple Knights were able to hold off the visitors with free throws, settling on the 86-76 final score.
Amiri Stewart led the Wildcats with 21 points, shooting 7-of-13 from the field including 3-of-4 from deep. He also had four rebounds, three assists, and two steals. Caleb Matthews shot 4-for-8 form deep and 7-of-15 overall for 20 points, adding a game high five assists as well. Skip Burton collected nine points and eight rebounds while getting a hand on four steals.
The Wildcats shot 51.6 percent from the field in the second half trying to get back into the game, including 6-of-11 from three-point range.
The Wildcats next game is in 11 days, as they jump back into Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference play on Saturday, December 30. They head to Philadelphia to take on Jefferson with a 3:00 p.m. opening tip.