(CHAMBERSBURG, Pa.) – It may have been cold outside, but Wilson heated things up inside the Gannett Field House as it defeated Penn State Berks in United East action on Wednesday evening. The Phoenix shot 51.5% in the first half and had four players score in double figures as they cruised by the Nittany Lions for their first conference win.
The Basics
Score: Wilson 77, Penn State Berks 52
Venue: Gannett Memorial Field House
Records: Wilson 2-5, 1-1 UE; Penn State Berks 0-8, 0-2 UE
How It Happened
- Six consecutive points by Gary Robertson (Gr., Washington, D.C. / Potomac / Bryant & Stratton) helped set the tone early as he helped Wilson built an 18-6 lead in the first 10 minutes of the game. It helped form a 17-2 run capped by 3-point barrage with two bonus bombs by way of Winston Raford (So., Woodbridge, Va. / Forest Park) before another by Robertson made the score 27-8 with 8:05 to go in the first. Jalen Pierce (Jr., Richmond, Va. / Collegiate) got in on the action with a trey to put Wilson up 34-13 with 4:45 left in the half. An Armani Jones (Jr., Chicago, Ill. / Christ The King) jumper on a dish from Robertson later put the Phoenix up 23 before taking a 42-20 lead into the locker room at halftime.
- Layups by Trea Keys (Sr., Columbia, Md. / Wilde Lake) and Jones kept the Phoenix on pace to start the second. A trey by Trea followed by a Jordan McKenzie (Sr., White Plains, Md. / North Point) bucket later put the Phoenix up 51-27 midway through the second. A steal and lay-in by Raford then gave Wilson a 33-point lead as the Phoenix stayed in front comfortably the rest of the way.
Inside The Numbers
- Pierce led all scorers with 17 points on an excellent night where he went 6-for-7 overall and 4-for-4 from the charity stripe. He now has back-to-back games with at least 17 points
- Jones recorded his third double-double of the season and his first since the second game of the year with 14 points and 10 rebounds. He was 6-for-11 overall.
- Robertson had a double-double of his own with 13 points and 10 assists. It's his first double-double on points and assists since the 2022-23 campaign.
- Raford finished with 15 points with three 3-pointers.
- Wilson clipped the nets at 51.5% in the first half after it made 17-of-33. On the opposite the Phoenix had perhaps its best game defensively as the Nittany Lions shot 18.5% (5-for-27) in the first half.
- The inside game worked well for Wilson who outscored Berks 40-18 in the paint.
- The Nittany Lions were led by Jaedon Mast who scored 13 points.
Up Next
The Phoenix head to the Garden State to take on Saint Elizabeth in another United East contest. Tipoff with the Eagles is set for 3:30 p.m.
