(CHAMBERSBURG, Pa.) – In a game that felt more magical than Santa's sleigh ride,
Winston Raford (So., Woodbridge, Va. / Forest Park) delivered a Christmas 'trey' to gift Wilson fans to a buzzer-beating victory over Lebanon Valley. The result ignited cheers of the Phoenix faithul that jingled all the way through Gannett Memorial Field House for the final home game of 2024.
Trailing by seven with under three minutes to go, the Phoenix went 3-of-4 from the field with all made field goals coming from behind the arc and forced four turnovers to play the role of the Grinch and steal the win from LVC.
The Basics
The Score: Wilson 72, Lebanon Valley 71
Venue: Gannett Memorial Field House
Records: Wilson 4-8, 2-1 UE; Lebanon Valley 5-4, 0-0 MAC Freedom
How It Happened
- It was a close contest throughout with neither team leading by more than eight points on the afternoon. Despite that, the Flying Dutchmen were the ones primarily in control as they lead for over 35 of the 40 minutes, and that was after 3-pointers by Jalen Pierce (Jr., Richmond, Va. / Collegiate / Millersville) and Trea Keys (Sr., Columbia, Md. / Wilde Lake) gave the Phoenix early leads at the start of the game. LVC eventually built up an eight point lead, but Wilson eventually tied the game after a Keys triple and a pair of Armani Jones (Jr., Chicago, Ill. / Christ The King / Bryant and Stratton) free throws with 7:16 left in the first half. The Phoenix were unable to go in front as LCV pulled ahead again and eventually to, ok a 35-31 into the locker room at the break.
- Wilson eventually regained the lead midway through the second half as Tobias Reese (FY, Mansfield, Texas / St. Elizabeth (Del.)) drove the lane for a layup and converted an and-one free throw that put the score at 51-49. The momentum didn't last long as the Dutchmen answered with a pair of Michael Main 3-pointers sandwiched around an Evin Timochenko inside jumper.
- A Timochenko tip-in made it a 68-61 game with 3:06 to go before Wilson made its run. Jones put the lights on the rally with a 3-pointer on a dish from Pierce. After an LVC layup, Jordan McKenzie (Sr., White Plains, Md. / North Point / Southern Maryland) caught the holiday spirit and trimmed the lead again with a triple of his own. After a series of turnovers, Pierce sank a pair of free throws with seven seconds left to get the Phoenix within one. Raford fouled on the inbounds where LVC made the first, but missed the second and left Jones with the ball after the rebound. He found Raford in the right corner who drained the trey with ice-cold precision. With .2 seconds left, LVC was unable to get a shot off as time expired.
Inside The Numbers
- Jones stuffed the stockings with a team-high 21 points and grabbed a game-high 13 rebounds for his fourth double-double of the season.
- Pierce and Raford each added a baker's dozen as both went 4-for-8 from the field. Pierce was 3-for-4 behind the arc, pulled down eight rebounds, and dished out three assists. Raford was 2-of-3 from range with three rebounds and a steal.
- Keys was also busy on the outside where he went 3-for-6 en route to 10 points.
- Lebanon Valley was paced by Timochenko who finished with 29 points. Ryan Harder added 18.
- While LVC controlled the paint offensively, Wilson did defensively and outrebounded the Dutchmen 41-38.
- The Phoenix hit a season-best 11 3-pointers, matching their double-overtime contest against Mount Aloysius. It's the fifth time this season they made at least 10.
Up Next
Wilson has one game left in the calendar year and that will take place just 10 miles up Route 11 as the Phoenix square off with Division II Shippensburg. It will be just the third meeting all-time and the first since 2018. Tip-off with the Raiders is set for 3 p.m.
