(CHAMBERSBURG, Pa.) – Wilson overcame a 16-point deficit with under 15 minutes to go to upend visiting Bryn Athyn by a score of 74-65 in CSAC action on Wednesday evening. The victory is the ninth consecutive for the Phoenix and matches a program record set by last year's squad.
The Basics
Score: Wilson 74-65
Venue: Gannett Field House
Records: Wilson 16-8, 10-3 CSAC; Bryn Athyn 11-13, 5-8 CSAC
How It Happened
- Bryn Athyn had control in the early goings as the Lions never trailed in the first half. The visitors even pushed their lead to double digits after a Jaryn McCann layup made the score 22-12 with 7:28 remaining in the opening frame. The Phoenix were able to cut the deficit back down to single digits on the next trip down the floor as Darryl Garib (Sr., Dallas, Texas / Forest Park) hit a 3-pointer from the left wing, their first long bomb of the game. Later in the half, a Gary Robertson (Jr., Washington D.C. / Potomac / Bryant and Stratton) layup put Wilson within two at 29-27, but the Lions scored seven of the next nine points to take a 36-29 lead into the halftime break.
- The Phoenix went down by 10 again at the start of the second as a Jamal Cannady Jr. jumper made the score 40-30. After the teams exchanged 3-pointers, Bryn Athyn took its biggest lead of the game at 49-33 after three layups from Isaiah Cureton and Will Little, all in transition.
- But as the old adage goes, it's not how you start, it's how you finish. After a Wilson timeout, Khalif Dickson (Jr., Hampton, Va. / Prince George / Eastern) put the Phoenix back in the scoring column with a layup on a dish from Darren Green (So., Silver Spring, Md. / Springbrook). Dickson followed up on defense with a steal, and after a missed 3-point attempt, Manny Ojo (Fy., Manassas, Va. / Osbourn) picked up the offensive board and put the layup in to make the score 49-37.
- Later in the half, Ibraheem Bundu (So., Largo, Md. / CCBC Dundalk) put the deficit back into single digits with a jumper that set the score at 51-43. Bryn Athyn was able to push its lead back up to 10, but Wilson came back with a 12-0 run to take its first lead of the game. Roberton sparked the rally as he went 4-for-4 from the free throw line after penetrating the paint, and another Garib triple brought the Phoenix within three. A no-look pass from Robertson to Garib for a layup put Wilson within one, and a steal by Rick Godwin Jr. (Sr., Largo, Md. / Largo / Southern Maryland) followed by a fastbreak layup coupled with an and-1 free throw put the score at 55-53 in favor of the Phoenix with 5:12 to go in the game.
- While Bryn Athyn was able to stay close, momentum clearly went in Wilson's favor after a Lions timeout as Antonio Bussey (Sr., Aiken, S.C. / Aiken / Claflin) kept the Phoenix faithful loud and proud on a dunk after getting the feed from Garib. Dickson then followed with a 3-pointer and a layup to put the score at 69-61 as the clock went under a minute and Wilson stayed in front by three possessions the rest of the way.
Inside The Numbers
- Garib led a Phoenix quartet in double figures and finished the night with 23 points. He was strong on the glass as well as he finished just shy of a double double with nine rebounds.
- Bussey finished with 12 points and 11 rebounds for his sixth double double of the season. Godwin and Robertson followed with 10 points each.
- Robertson was also strong finding the open man as he recorded a game-high seven assists. He's recorded at least seven assists in six games this season, including the last three.
- Defensively the Phoenix received some huge minutes from Bundu. With Bussey in foul trouble, Bundu came in to play underneath, pulled down seven rebounds, and rejected four Lions shot attempts.
- Dickson came off the bench to also play some pivotal minutes and finished the night 4-for-6 for a season-high nine points.
- Wilson controlled the glass in convincing fashion and outrebounded the Lions 51-29. Twenty of those were on the offensive end which translated into 22 second-chance points.
- Wilson's bench outscored the Lions' by a count of 19-0.
For the Lions
- Bryn Athyn was paced by Jamal Cannady Jr. with 22 points as he was 9-of-18 from the field. Little finished with 15 points and was 7-for-11. McCann added 14 while Isaiah Cureton finished with 11.
Playoff Picture
- The win tonight means that Wilson will be at least the No. 2 seed in next week's CSAC Tournament. The Phoenix still remain one game behind Cairn who won in overtime tonight at Saint Elizabeth.
Up Next
Wilson will look to set a new program record for consecutive wins as it hosts Clarks Summit on Saturday. It will be Senior Day for the Phoenix who will tip-off against the Defenders at approximately 3 p.m. following the women's game at 1.
