(CHAMBERSBURG, Pa.) – A late rally by Wilson came up short as it was upended by Eastern Mennonite in the final game of the calendar year on Saturday afternoon.
Darryl Garib (Sr., Dallas, Texas / Forest Park) led the game with 23 points and
Jordan Miles (Sr., Waldorf, Md. / Westlake) added a season-best 15 points, but it wasn't enough for the Phoenix to overcome a balanced Royals team that featured four players in double figures.
The Basics
Score: Wilson 60, Eastern Mennonite 71
Venue: Gannett Memorial Field House
Records: Wilson 5-7, 3-1 United East; Eastern Mennonite 4-8, 0-4 ODAC
How It Happened
- Although Wilson scored the opening points of the game, the Royals took all of the early momentum as they responded with an 8-0 run over the next five minutes. A 9-2 run capped by a Darren Green (Jr., Silver Spring, Md. / Springbrook) layup on a feed from Miles eventually put the Phoenix back within a possession at 16-14 midway through the frame. EMU resumed control with an 11-0 run and took a 39-26 lead into halftime.
- The opening portion of the second half also favored the Royals and they eventually took a 23-point lead after an Edixon Gomez-Blanco 3-pointer made the score 56-23 with 11:09 left in regulation. At that time Wilson started to chip away at the deficit and got within seven after a Miles steal led to a Green layup six minutes later. The Phoenix defense stepped up during that time as they made steals on four of six EMU possessions which translated to eight points on the opposite end.
- Green's aforementioned layup made the score 61-54 with 5:09 to go and capped a 21-5 run for Wilson. Unfortunately it was the closest the Phoenix got the rest of the way as another Gomez-Blanco triple put the Royals back up by 10. Layups by Ethan Wilson (Jr., Manassas, Va. / Osbourn Park / Howard C.C.) and Khalif Dickson (Sr., Hampton, Va. / Prince George) put the Phoenix back within single digits before time ran out.
Inside The Numbers
- Miles' big game was easily his best of the season as he was 5-of-10 on the day with all shots coming from range. It's the first time he's scored in double figures this season, and the 15 points are the most he's tallied since he went for 17 against Valley Forge on February 5, 2022.
- Garib remained consistent as he went for 23 points. It's the third consecutive game and fifth out of the last six that he's hit the 20-point plateau.
- The late defensive charge resulted in 10 steals on the day to make a single-game best this season. The Phoenix also made 10 swipes in the win at Notre Dame.
- Rebounds were fairly even with EMU winning the slight 39-37 edge on the glass. Ibraheem Bundu (Sr., Bowie, Md. / Largo / CCBC Dundalk) paced the Phoenix with eight caroms.
Up Next
Wilson will return to United East competition when it heads to Saint Elizabeth this Wednesday. It will be a women's and men's twin bill with the men tipping off at approximately 7 p.m.
