(CHAMBERSBURG, Pa.) – Tuesday's conference opener between Wilson and Notre Dame came down to the wire, but saw the Phoenix fall to the Gators in the closing moments. With the game tied and less than a minute to play, the visitors were able to force a pair of turnovers and turned them into points on the opposite end to take a four-point win back to Baltimore.
The Basics
Score: Wilson 76, Notre Dame 80
Venue: Gannett Field House
Records: Wilson 1-5, 0-1 UE; Notre Dame 2-3, 1-0 UE
How It Happened
- It was a close game throughout the 40 minutes as neither team held a lead larger than eight points. The bulk of that time was a two-possession game. Runs were tough to come by, but the Phoenix made a solid push during the later stages of the first half with a 13-4 run with six points from Armani Jones (Jr., Chicago, Ill. / Christ The King) who capped the rally with a dunk. Notre Dame quickly countered with a 10-0 run that started its next trip down the court, eventually going up by seven before a Jalen Pierce (Jr., Richmond, Va. / Collegiate) layup made the score 44-39 at the half.
- While Notre Dame advanced its lead to eight on a couple of occasions early in the second, but Phoenix refused to yield. A pair of Trea Keys (Sr., Columbia, Md. / Wilde Lake) free throws, a Pierce layup, and a Tobias Reese (FY, Mansfield, Texas / Elizabeth (Del.)) triple quickly put Wilson back within one point. Although it took most of the second half, the Phoenix eventually tied the game on an inside jumper by Keys that made the score 64-all with 7:48 left in regulation. A Jones layup followed by a Jordan McKenzie (Sr., White Plains, Md. / North Point) block that transitioned into a Keys bucket then gave Wilson a four point lead and forced a Gators timeout. Notre Dame regained the lead, but the Phoenix still threatened. A potent Robertson layup tied the game with 91 seconds left, but it was the Gators' defense that forced two turnovers in the final seconds which resulted in a pair of baskets to give the visitors the win.
Inside The Numbers
- Pierce easily had his best game of the season as he poured in a team-high 20 points. He blistered the nets at a rate of 66.7% (10-of-15) and added seven rebounds.
- Jones finished with 17 points after he went 7-for-15 from the field. He added eight rebounds for co-game high honors.
- Keys shot 50% (6-of-12) for the game en route to 15 points. He now has scored career-highs in each of the last two games.
- McKenzie remained consistent with 10 points, and he too was 50% (3-of-6) from the field. He has now scored in double figures each of the past five games.
- The Gators were led by K'Won Johnson who finished with 23 points. He added eight rebounds.
Up Next
The Phoenix look to bounce back as they host Penn State Berks in a women's and men's doubleheader. The men will tip-off at 7:30 p.m. while the women start off the evening at 5.
