SUBJECT: Jaiden Guy Leads Second Half Turnaround as Wildcats Win Opener, 93-73, at UDC

DATE: November 14, 2025
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WASHINGTON, D.C. - - After a slow first half, the Wilmington University men's basketball team exploded in the second to defeat the University of the District of Columbia, 93-73, on Friday in the EB Henderson Complex in the 2025-26 season opener.

The Wildcats (1-0) are coming off an exciting exhibition victory last week where they defeated Division I neighbor Delaware, 71-62. That momentum didn't immediately translate into their game against the Firebirds, though. The Wildcats trailed 43-36 at the half but then erupted for a 57-30 second half.

Wilmington scored first on a Tre Hawkins layup and proceeded to keep things within four points for the first ten minutes as the teams exchanged leads, but trouble hit after Zavion Bianchini tied things up at 21 on a free throw. The Firebirds went on a 12-3 run over the next two and a half minutes, and although they brought it back to within three on a Jaiden Guy layup with two minutes before the break, the Wildcats went into halftime trailing 43-36.

Wilmington's halftime planning flipped a switch for the offense, however, as they stormed back in the first five minutes with a dominating 24-4 run to go up 60-47. Guy led the charge, scoring 13 straight for the Cats to close that stretch out. Another run a few minutes later, this time 20-4, was capped by a Jaylin Horsey three, and Wilmington cruised to what ended up being a comfortable victory.

UDC's 25 turnovers turned into 39 points for the Wildcats, as Jaiden Guy picked up where he left off in the exhibition, turning 13-19 from the field and 2-3 at the line into 30 points. He added seven rebounds, three assists, and a steal on his line for the night. Jaylin Horsey sank three of his six threes on his way to 17 points, while Tre Hawkins contributed 13 points and nine rebounds. Akeem Taylor started and tallied eight points, and Zavion Bianchini and Justin Perez matched his total off the bench, with Bianchini also pulling down seven rebounds.

Wilmington is right back to it on Saturday in D.C., this time to take on D'Youville at 1:00 p.m.