BLOOMFIELD, N.J. -
The Bloomfield College men's basketball team rose to a 76-66 win after a see-saw battle against Wilmington University in Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference action on Saturday afternoon at the Bear's Gym. Although the Wildcats (3-10, 2-3 CACC) took a 30-27 advantage to the locker room at halftime the Bears (4-7, 3-2 CACC) clawed their way back into the contest and eventually secured the game sinking free throws down the stretch.The inter-division conference battle saw twelve lead changes and nine ties during the contest with senior guard, Marvin Williams (Jersey City, N.J.) pouring in 16 second half points en route to his game-high twenty for the afternoon. Williams buckets came in a reserve role as head coach, Gerald Holmes shook up the starting line up for the new year, bringing in three of the Bears top four scorers off the bench for the match.
Wilmington's Valentino Thompson (Tinton Falls, N.J.) scored the Wildcats final five points of the opening period after both teams were knotted at a 25-25 tie. Junior forward, Claude Blue (Brooklyn, N.Y.) followed with a pair of free throws for the Bears to send the home team into the break down three (30-27).
The second half played to the tune of the first with neither CACC squad able to distance themselves from the other until an 11-2 Wildcat spurt gave the visitors a 46-40 lead with 13:56 remaining in the period. Bloomfield answered with six straight, capped by a layup from freshman starter, Nick Davidson (Lumberton, N.J.) in the paint. The games next spurt gave the Wildcats their largest lead of the afternoon at 53-46 with 10:25 to play. The Bears battled to even the contest again at 57-57 with 7:36 to go and took control on a Williams three-pointer, securing a five point lead (64-59) just over a minute and a half later.
Wilmington gave a final push to snag a 66-64 advantage after a conventional three-point play from their starting forward, Kevin Ohen (Union, N.J.) but the Bears would not be denied as Blue converted a layup in the paint to tie the game yet again and the visitors were unable to muster another point for the day. Junior guard, Clarence White (Bronx, N.Y.) converted six of the Bears final ten points to secure the win.
Williams' twenty points led all scorers and he added eight rebounds for the Bears off the bench. Blue finished the afternoon with thirteen points and seven boards in his reserve roll. Davidson and White rounded out the home team's double-figure scorers with 13 and 11 points respectively in their starting roles. Thompson led the Wildcats offensive attack with 18 points, shooting 6-of-11 from the floor and adding a perfect 3-of-3 from the foul line. Ohen added 13 points and eight rebounds in the setback for the visitors.
Next up Bloomfield will travel to Rutherford, N.J. to take on Felician College in a CACC North Division battle on Wednesday, January 7th at 8:00 pm.
