(MORRISTOWN, N.J.) – A 9-0 run in the final two minutes helped Wilson pull away and defeat Saint Elizabeth on the road Saturday afternoon. It was a close game throughout as no one held a double-digit lead until that point with a bulk of the game being separated by two possessions or less. The victory puts the Phoenix above .500 in conference play as they heading into the rest of the month against non-league opponents.
The Basics
Score: Wilson 71 Saint Elizabeth 63
Venue: Saint Joseph Hall
Records: Wilson 3-5, 2-1 UE; Saint Elizabeth 2-6, 1-2 UE
How It Happened
- A last-second 3-pointer by Gary Robertson (Gr., Washington, D.C. / Potomac / Bryant & Stratton) capped the first half and gave Wilson a 27-25 lead headed into locker room with momentum at the mid-game break. The Phoenix built that into a 9-0 run with Jordan McKenzie (Sr., White Plains, Md. / North Point / Southern Maryland) and Armani Jones (Jr., Chicago, Ill. / Christ The King / Bryant & Stratton) both hitting buckets in the process. After an old-fashioned 3-point play by the Eagles, McKenzie answered with a trey for a 36-28 lead just over two-minutes into the period.
- Saint Elizabeth slowly chipped away at the deficit and eventually got to within one as a Malamin Kaba triple made it 47-46. Wilson built its lead back up to seven before the Eagles chipped away once again and tied the game at 57-all on a 3-pointer by Tye-Rell Monroe.
- Wilson was able to get the lead right back as Winston Raford (So., Woodbridge, Va. / Forest Park) drained one from beyond the arc. After teams exchanged layups and the Eagles made a free throw to make it a two-point game, Jones added a triple for a 65-60 lead with 1:41 to go. A minute later Jones threw down a dunk to put Wilson firmly in charge. Trea Keys (Sr., Columbia, Md. / Wilde Lake / Howard C.C.) then went 4-for-4 from the free throw line to seal the win.
Inside The Numbers
- Jones finished the game with a team-best 18 points as he went 7-for-13 from the field, including 3-for-5 from range. He pulled down seven rebounds, dished out five assists, and added four steals to his stat line as well.
- McKenzie joined him in double-figures with 14 points. He was 5-for-11 with a 3-pointer. Jalen Pierce (Jr., Richmond, Va. / Collegiate / Millersville) was right behind him with 12 points after going 5-for-9 with five rebounds and four steals.
- Keys was a point shy of double figures, while Robinson had a solid all-around game with seven points, eight boards, five assists and two steals.
- The Phoenix recorded at least 10 steals for the fifth game this season. They had six such games all of last year.
- Monroe led the Eagles with 29 points. He was 10-for-24 overall and 4-for-12 behind the arc. Kaba added 14 for the hosts.
- Both teams had a cold opening half from the floor shooting under 30%, but Wilson was able to make up for it by shooting 50% (16-32) in the second half compared to the Eagles who shot 37.1% (13-35).
- Wilson now leads the all-time series 8-6.
Up Next
The team is off until next Saturday where it will continue its three-game road slate at Lycoming. Tip-off with the Warriors is set for 1 p.m.
