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NEWARK, Del. - - Ball movement was key for the Wilmington University men's basketball team on Wednesday night as all nine Wildcats that played scored, but the team needed hang on late once again in an 86-80 nonconference victory over the District of Columbia at the WU Athletics Complex.
It was the Wildcats' (7-4) third straight victory and sixth in their last seven games overall. They assisted on 24 of the team's 29 made field goals in the game, as they shot 48.3 percent (29-of-60) from the floor. The Wildcats also went 17-of-18 from the foul line in the contest to hold off the Firebirds (3-7) late.
A big 14-2 run in the middle of the first half turned a four-point deficit into a 25-17 lead for the Wildcats. Three consecutive three-pointers, two made by Caleb Matthews, gave the Wildcats the lead, with his second coming with 9:43 left to take a 20-17 advantage. The Wildcats wouldn't relinquish the lead again. Nalik Veasley converted an old fashioned three-point play to cap the run and take a 25-17 lead.
The Firebirds closed to within 25-21, but then the Wildcats' defensive pressure didn't allow UDC to score for the next 5:48 of game time. Caleb Matthews started a 14-0 run with a three-pointer and then Amiri Stewart rocked the rim with a his first fastbreak slam of the night. A steal by Taalib Holloman allowed Stewart to break out again for another dunk, making it a 37-21 game with 4:52 to play. Nalik Veasley capped the run with a finish from a drive and drop-off from Jordan Jackson, taking a 39-21 lead with 4:27 to play.
UDC hung tough though, scoring the final six points of the half to go into the halftime break trailing 43-32.
Randy Rickards scored the first bucket of the second half, but then the Firebirds closed the gap to six points with a 7-0 run, 45-39, with 17:35 to play. The game swayed at an 11-point margin before the Wildcats scored three straight buckets, ending with another Amiri Stewart fast break slam to go up, 67-51, with 8:54 to play. But again, the Firebirds came roaring back, closing to within 67-59 with 7:21 left.
The Wildcats pushed the lead back out to 15 points with 3:37 left, but a quick 10-0 spurt brought the Firebirds right back into the game, 78-73, with 1:57 to play. The Wildcats found an answer for every Firebird bucket from there on out though, as Rickards scored before two from the line by Amiri Stewart. Rickards then capped the game with a final dunk before Jordan Jackson iced it with two more from the free throw line, 86-80.
Amiri Stewart led five Wildcats in double figures with 17 points on 6-of-9 shooting and six assists. Nalik Veasley came off the bench to record a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds while Justin Thomas and Caleb Matthews scored 13 points each as well. Randy Rickards scored all 10 of his points in the second half. Jordan Jackson had eight points to go with five rebounds and four assists.
The Wildcats are off through the NCAA Division II Life in the Balance initiative and won't return to game action until December 31 when they face new Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference member Bridgeport on the road.