(CHAMBERSBURG, Pa.) – The quest for a three-peat came to an end a little sooner than what was hoped for as Wilson was upended by St. Elizabeth in the Skye Division Championship on Wednesday. The top-seeded Phoenix were looking to move on to Saturday's United East Championship at Penn State-Harrisburg, but the No. 3 Eagles used a suffocating defense that posed problems for the Blue and White.
The Basics
Score: No. 1 Wilson 56, No. 3 St. Elizabeth 65
Venue: Gannett Memorial Field House
Records: No. 1 Wilson 16-11, No. 3 St. Elizabeth 17-11
How It Happened
- Wilson looked to create some separation as Darryl Garib (Sr., Dallas, Texas / Forest Park) converted an and-one free throw following a layup to go up 14-10 midway through the first half. Teams would then exchange buckets with Tyrik Ward-Hoyte (Jr., Baltimore, Md. / Phelps / Clinton) cutting through the lane for a layup after a Nate Thompson layup. However, St. Elizabeth was able to answer with a 10-0 run to take control of the momentum.
- The visitors eventually built that into a 10-point lead with 5:26 to go in the first half after a Tye-Rell Monroe layup. Wilson was quick to answer as a Ward-Hoyte layup and an Ethan Wilson (Jr., Manassas, Va. / Osbourn Park / Howard C.C.) 3-pointer got the Blue and White back within five just under a minute later. Another Ward-Hoyte deuce made the score 32-28 before the Eagles scored the final bucket of the half for a six-point lead at the break.
- The second half was also close throughout, but unfortunately for the Phoenix it was the Eagles with the slight edge on the scoreboard. The Phoenix did give theirselves a chance despite St. Elizabeth's best chances to pull away. After the Eagles built a nine-point lead, Wilson was able to cut the deficit back down to one after a pair of Ward-Hoyte layups and another from Garib. That made the score 57-56 with 2:42 to go, but the Eagles' jumper put them back up three. St. Elizabeth eventually added a free throw, and after regaining possession hit a 3-pointer to make it a three-possession game with 29 seconds left. A pair of free throws then set the final score.
Inside The Numbers
- Garib led the offense with 16 points for the Phoenix. He was also one of the top rebounders on the team with eight caroms. He finishes his collegiate career with 1,381 career points, good for third in program history.
- Ward-Hoyte capped his night with 13 points on a night where he was 6-for-8 from the field.
- Ethan Wilson finished with 11 points and a pair of triples.
- Ibraheem Bundu (Sr., Bowie, Md. / Largo / CCBC Dundalk) had another defensively strong game with 10 rebounds, two blocks, and a steal.
- The Eagles were led by Monro who finished with a game-high 23 points. Thompson added 12, and D'Angelo Blackmond had a double-double on 10 points and 15 rebounds.
