(STAUNTON, Va.) – The Wilson College men's basketball team is thankful for student-athlete
Ethan Wilson (Manassas, Va. / Osbourn Park / Howard C.C.) as his double-double helped the Phoenix get back in the win column Tuesday evening. The junior transfer poured in 26 points and pulled down 10 rebounds to help push the Blue and White by the Fighting Squirrels as both teams head into Thanksgiving break.
The Basics
Score: Wilson 79, Mary Baldwin 72
Venue: Physical Activity Center
Records: Wilson 2-2, Mary Baldwin 2-3
- It was a hot start for the Phoenix as they hit three of their first four shots to take an early 8-3 lead on the hosts. Ethan Wilson was a catalyst from the start as he led off the game with a layup and assisted on a pair of Bryce Smith (Jr., Bryan, Texas / A&M Consolidated / Medaille) 3-pointers for the early momentum. Mary Baldwin was quick to answer, however, and bounced back to take the lead at 11-10 on a Vernon Fraley jumper just under five minutes into the contest.
- It was a sign of things to come as neither team could pull away and always stayed within striking distance of each other. The Squirrels were the first team to try as a 10-0 run put them in front 27-20 with 7:43 to go in the first half, but a triple by Khalif Dickson (Sr., Hampton, Va. / Prince George) on a Darryl Garib (Sr., Dallas, Texas / Forest Park) assist helped the Phoenix get back into the game. Mary Baldwin answered with a pair of free throws and a trey of its own to take an eight point lead, the largest for either team in the game. Wilson was able to claw its way back and get within one as Ethan Wilson scored an old-fashioned three-point play to make it 35-34 before the Squirrels closed first with a 3-pointer to head into the break up four.
- The long ball continued to be a friend for the Phoenix as consecutive bonus bombs from Winston Raford (FY, Woodbridge, Va. / Forest Park) and Smith gave Wilson the lead to start the second half. The bulk of the period saw teams go blow-for-blow and exchange leads four times. With teams knotted at 66-all, a Garib 3-pointer ended that trend. A pair of Gary Robertson (Sr., Washington D.C. / Potomac / Bryant and Stratton) layups followed to give Wilson a 73-66 lead with 35 seconds to go and capped a 7-0 run, the largest of the game for the Phoenix.
- Mary Baldwin came back with a Logan Barbour jumper to get back within two possessions. The Squirrels were forced to foul the rest of the way and the Phoenix were too good from the free throw line for the strategy to pay dividends as they went 6-for-7 In the final 29 seconds to ice the game.
Inside The Numbers
- Ethan Wilson led all players with 26 points by shooting 50% (7-of-14) from the field. He was also 50% behind the arc where hit four 3-pointers. He was perfect from the charity stripe on all eight attempts as well.
- Garib joined him in double figures with 11 points. Garib was 4-for-7 from the field and shined defensively where he blocked two shots and made three steals as well.
- Neither player was selfish with the ball as they shared game-high honors with five assists each.
- The long ball was kind for the Phoenix who did most of their damage behind the 3-point line. They made 14 of their 26 field goals from downtown, the most in a single game for Wilson since it hit 18 against Centenary on December 5, 2019.
- Vernon Fraley and Zach Sloan were the main point-getters for the Squirrels. Both made 15 points and Faley recorded a double-double with 10 boards as well.
Up Next
With the quartet of road games to open the season now complete, the Phoenix will play its home opener this Sunday against Lycoming. Tip-off with the Warriors is set for 1 p.m.
