(CHAMBERSBURG, Pa.) – Sunday's contest presented Wilson with an opportunity to win its biggest game in program history as it hosted defending national champion and nationally ranked No. 12 Christopher Newport. The Phoenix definitely had their chances for the monumental upset, but the Captains were able to pull away in the second half.
Darryl Garib (Sr., Dallas, Texas / Forest Park) shined for the Wilson Blue and White as he recorded his third double double of the season on 22 points and 12 rebounds, both of which took game high honors. However, CNU was able to counter with a balanced attack which featured four players in double figures.
The Basics
Score: Wilson 49, No. 12 Christopher Newport 68
Venue: Gannett Memorial Field House
Records: Wilson 5-6, 3-1 United East; No. 12 Christopher Newport 8-3, 0-0 C2C
How It Happened
- Both teams were slow out of the gate despite Christopher Newport hitting a couple of 3-pointers for an early 6-2 lead two minutes into the game. Thankfully for the Phoenix it wouldn't be a trend that continued for the rest of the period and rebounding played into the hosts' favor as they eventually were able to tie the game at 8-all after a pair of Garib free throws. Wilson took the lead shortly after as Ethan Wilson (Jr., Manassas, Va. / Osbourn Park) hit a pair of free throws and extended it after a Garib tip-in made it 12-9 with 13:48 to go in the first.
- The lead was short lived as the Captains answered on their next trip down the floor with a Toa Hollenbeck triple. CNU kept the momentum and pushed forward by as many as seven after All-American Jahn Hines made it 27-20 with 3:09 left in the frame. The Phoenix were able to keep it a two-possession game at the break as they trailed 29-23.
- In the second half, a cold start by the Phoenix allowed the Captains to go up by double digits after a Hasan Hammad trey four minutes in. Even still, the Phoenix were able to keep them in check and keep it a 10-point game midway through the period. The Captains started to heat up at that point as a 15-4 run gave them their largest lead of the game at 57-36.
- Wilson didn't go away quietly and was able to answer with a 7-0 run with a Khalif Dickson (Sr., Hampton, Va. / Prince George) 3-pointer and a Devin Thomas (Sr., Waldorf, Md. / Westlake) layup to try and get back in the game. Unfortunately, that was as close as the Phoenix could get as CNU eventually pushed the lead back up and prevented any hopes of a comeback.
Inside The Numbers
- Garib's 22-point game was the fourth time in his last five outings that he's scored at least 20 points. After his record-breaking 44-point performance two weeks ago against Keystone, he's had games of 25, 23, and 22. He is now averaging 21.5 points per game, second in the entire United East behind Cairn's Derian Bradford by just .1 of a point.
- Overall rebounds were close with Wilson holding the slight 39-38 edge over CNU. In addition to Garib, Ethan Wilson and Ibraheem Bundu (Sr., Bowie, Md. / Largo / CCBC Dundalk) were strong on the glass with eight boards each.
- Wilson defended the 3-point shot well against the Captains in the first half limiting them to a 3-for-19 clip in the first half. That mark increased in favor of the Phoenix to 3-for-21 before CNU went 7-for-8 from range in the final 16 minutes.
- The Phoenix limited CNU's All-American Jahn Hines to just 10 points. The Captains still featured a deep bench with four double-figure scorers led by first year guard Hasan Hammad with 19 points and four 3-pointers.
- This was the fifth time in program history that Wilson has played a nationally ranked team. It's also the second consecutive season the Phoenix have met the defending national champions. Other contests against nationally ranked teams occurred in 2023 at No. 1 Randolph-Macon, 2022 at No. 23 Stockton, and twice during the 2015-16 season against Lancaster Bible who held rankings of No. 15 and 18.
Up Next
Wilson will take a break as finals week approaches. The Phoenix will return to the hardwood just before the New Year as they entertain another team from Virginia as Eastern Mennonite comes to Chambersburg on Saturday, December 30. Tip-off with the Royals is set for 1 p.m.
