RUTHERFORD, N.J. - - Shooting 68 percent in the second half allowed the Wilmington University men's basketball team to overcome a five-point halftime deficit on the road, defeating Felician, 95-90, on Saturday afternoon in a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference cross-divisional contest in Job Gym.
The Wildcats (10-6, 4-1 CACC) shot a season's second-best 58.9 percent from the floor for the game (33-for-56), including going 17-for-25 from the floor in the second half, adding 13-for-17 from the foul line to comeback and defeat the Golden Falcons (8-9, 4-2 CACC). The Wildcats won the second half, 52-42, to erase the five-point halftime deficit.
Felician hit nine three-pointers in the first half, going 9-for-15 overall and 18-for-33 from the field overall in the opening 20 minutes. They used an 8-0 run early to take a 16-8 lead with 12:12 to play and then hit three-pointers on consecutive possessions to lead 29-21 with 6:41 to play. Another 10-4 spurt gave the home team their largest lead of the game, 44-35, with 1:52 showing on the clock. Marcus Pierce pulled the Wildcats to within three points with a floating jumper before free throws gave the Golden Falcons a 48-43 lead heading into the break.
Felician extended the lead out to eight points to start the second half, but then the Wildcats answered with a 10-2 run to tie the game, 53-53, using an Amiri Stewart three-pointer to knot the score.
Brycen Williams hit a three-pointer and then Asher Kemble gave the Wildcat the lead with a layup with 12:55 to play. The Wildcats wouldn't relinquish the lead the rest of the way. The Golden Falcons kept the game to a single possession for several more possessions, but then Caleb Matthews hit a three-pointer for a 72-65 lead and then converted a huge four-point play, hitting the three-pointer and sinking the free throw for a 76-67 lead with 6:58 to play. Marcus Pierce gave the Wildcats their first double-digit lead with a turn-around jumper, before a Taalib Holloman three-pointer pushed the Wildcats ahead, 85-75, with 4:19 showing on the clock.
Felician got to within five points with 1:22 to play and as close as four points with 21 seconds on the clock. Marcus Pierce hit one of two from the foul line and Felician answered with another three-pointer to close the gap to 92-90 with 11 seconds to play. But Marcus Pierce sealed the victory with a three-point play, getting loose and putting in the layup and converting the free throw to settle on the final score, 95-90.
Marcus Pierce led the Wildcats with 23 points on 7-of-11 shooting, adding four rebounds and two assists. Taalib Holloman scored 19 points on 8-of-12 form the floor, adding six rebounds. Amiri Stewart added 17 points on 6-of-10 shooting, adding five rebounds, and two assists. Caleb Matthews hit four three-pointers and scored 15 points overall, grabbing four rebounds and adding three assists. Asher Kemble came off the bench to score 15 points on 5-of-7 shooting, grabbing four rebounds, and adding three assists as well. The Wildcats had 41 points come form the bench, 38 by Marcus Pierce and Asher Kemble alone.
The Wildcats are on the road for one more contest before coming home, traveling to Lakewood, New Jersey on Wednesday night to take on Georgian Court. The opening tip is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. inside the Wellness Center.