(CHAMBERSBURG, Pa.) – Jordan McKenzie (Sr., White Plains, Md. / North Point / Southern Maryland) scored a career-high 18 points and
Jalen Pierce (Jr., Richmond, Va. / Collegiate / Millersville) score in double-figures for a seventh-straight game as Wilson held off St. Mary's in United East action Saturday afternoon.
The Basics
Score: Wilson 78, St. Mary's 74
Venue: Gannett Field House
Records: Wilson 5-8, 3-1 UE; St. Mary's 7-7, 3-2 UE
How It Happened
- A quick start by St. Mary's saw the visitors jump out to an 10-2 lead in the opening two minutes, but Wilson didn't fret and stayed within reach for the first half. Tobias Reese (FY, Mansfield, Texas / St. Elizabeth (Del.)) put the Phoenix within two as his 3-pointer made it 25-23 with 5:17 to play before the break. Four minutes later, Gary Robertson (Gr.,, Washington, D.C. / Potomac / Bryant & Stratton) pulled Wilson even at 33-all with a layup. After a St. Mary's timeout, Pierce made a steal that transitioned into another Reese triple to put Wilson up 36-33 at the break.
- The Phoenix flipped the script at the start of the second half and used 12-3 run to take a 12-point lead. Pierce was a catalyst for the outburst with six points, a rebound and a steal during that stretch. The Seahawks didn't give up and eventually closed the gap to one points after a pair of Kyree Smith free throws with 8:45 to go. Pierce provided a clutch 3-pointer for a 74-70 advantage with 3:14 left and the teams were able to exchange buckets over the next minute. Smith scored another jumper with 87 seconds left, but it was the closest SMCM could get as McKenzie sealed the game with a pair of free throws in the final seconds.
Inside The Numbers
- McKenzie exploded in the second half where he scored 15 of his team-high 18 points. He was 5-for-9 from the field during the frame and finished the game 8-of-9 from the free throw line. He added six boards.
- Pierce finished with 17 points, the fourth time in the last seven games he's finished with at least that many. He was nearly unstoppable as he was 7-for-10 from the field. He added six rebounds and four steals.
- Robertson scored a dozen on the day as he was 5-for-6 from the field. He set up the offense with four assists as well.
- Reese finished with 10 points with a pair of 3-pointers.
- Armani Jones (Jr., Chicago, Ill. / Christ The King / Bryant & Stratton) pulled down eight rebounds to equal the Seahawks' Jake Koverman for game-high honors.
- Wilson shot 47.5% (29-61) for the game, the best shooting percentage for the Phoenix this season.
- The Phoenix made 13 steals on the day, tied for the second-most in a single game this year. It's the seventh game this season the Blue and White has reached double-figures in steals.
Up Next
A tough test awaits the Phoenix as they head up the road to take on defending conference champion Penn State Harrisburg on Wednesday. Tip-off with the Nittany Lions is set for 7:30 p.m.
