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NEWARK, Del. - - A huge second half, in which the Wilmington University men's basketball team scored 59 points, allowed the Wildcats to snap a five-game losing streak and defeat crosstown rival Goldey-Beacom, 98-76, on Tuesday night inside the WU Athletics Complex.
The Wildcats (4-5, 1-3 CACC) shot 63.2 percent from the field (24-of-38) in the second half, including 5-of-7 from three-point territory to blow open the contest on their home court. The Wildcats shot 59.4 percent from the floor for the game, including 8-of-16 from deep. The Wildcats outscored the Lightning (4-3, 2-2 CACC), 56-28, in the paint, and 25-11 off turnovers.
A 7-0 Lightning run gave the visitors their largest lead of the night, 8-4, in the early going. An alley-oop to Hiram Alexander capped a 15-5 run for the Wildcats, putting them ahead, 13-13 with 11:31 to play in the first half. The rest of the opening 20 minutes would be played inside that six-point margin, with the Lightning getting as close as 21-20 and again 25-24. The Wildcats pushed it out to a six-point lead a couple more times in the first half, taking a 39-35 lead into the halftime break.
The Wildcats used a quick 7-0 spurt to take a 47-37 lead in the opening two minutes of the second half. They would take as large as a 14-point lead off an old fashioned three-point play from Hiram Alexander, but it was a 12-0 run moments later that allowed the Wildcats to pull away.
Leading 59-49, Jaiden Guy had an offensive putback and foul to spark the run with 13:37 showing on the clock. Guy was at it again, scoring two more from the line and then scored on the break, picked up a steal and scored another quick layup for the 68-49 lead. Jaylin Horsey then capped the run with a three-pointer, pushing the Wildcats lead out to 71-49 with 11:25 left to play.
The lead didn't go below 15 points for the Wildcats and then the Wildcats got a jumper and an alley-oop from Jordan Moore for their largest lead of the game, 96-70, before settling on the final score, 98-76.
Jaiden Guy scored 18 of his game-high 25 points in the second half, adding eight assists, five rebounds, and two steals as well. Tre Hawkins scored 23 points and 11 rebounds for his sixth double-double of the year. Akeem Taylor added 12 points with seven rebounds while Denim Perkins and Jaylin Horsey scored 11 points each. Perkins also dished out seven assists with four steals in the win.
The Wildcats are on the road for three games prior to the NCAA Division II mandatory break, starting on Saturday at Pace University. The opening tip is set for 3:30 p.m. in Pleasantville, New York.
