(GETTYSBURG, Pa.) – The new look Wilson men's basketball team nearly knocked off tournament host Gettysburg to open the season on Friday night.
Jalen Bowie (Sr., Frederick, Md. / Frederick / Shippensburg) was the star of the night as he dropped a game-high 30 points in his debut for the Phoenix.
It came down to the final moments as a late 3-pointer by Bowie put the Blue and White in position to at least tie the game. The Phoenix were able to pull down the rebound after a free throw after a quick foul, but a last second 3-point attempt fell just short.
The Basics
Score: Wilson 79, Gettysburg 81
Venue: Bream Gymnasium
Records: Wilson 0-1, 0-0 UE; Gettysburg 1-0, 0-0 CC
How It Happened
- Despite a pair of triples in the first minute by the Bullets, the Phoenix had the hot hands early as they used 13-0 run to take a nine point lead in the first 5:28 of the game. Back-to-back treys from Tobias Reese (So., Mansfield, Texas / St. Elizabeth (Del.)) and Armani Jones (Sr., Chicago, Ill. / Christ The King Prep / Bryant & Stratton) put Wilson in front 8-6 while Bowie added a three-point play the old-fashioned way after he was fouled on a fast break layup. The Bullets were able to cut the deficit to three before Bowie answered with another long range jumper and a pair of free throws to take a 23-15 lead at the midway point of the first.
- Gettysburg started to make its move shortly after and started with a Ray Zamloot jumper in the paint. That started an 9-0 run that was also capped by Zamloot with a 3-pointer to put the home team in front. After a few lead changes the Bullets appeared to have momentum as a Reece Craft layup gave them a 41-35 lead with under a minute until the break, but Bowie answered with a layup on a dish from Reese, stole the ball in the finals seconds, and was fouled on a last second 3-point attempt in which he made two of three to make it a two-point game at halftime.
- Although Gettysburg held the lead for most of the second half, Wilson didn't go away quietly and stayed within two possessions the rest of the way. The Phoenix even took the lead on a few occasions, the last of which came on an Ethan Salvatierra (FY, Woodbridge, Va. / Forest Park) and-one free throw after he tied the game on a layup with 7:16 to go in regulation.
- With the Bullets up five with 63 ticks left, a Travis Blake Jr. (FY, Baltimore, Md. / North County) free throw and a 3-pointer by Bowie put the Blue and White back within one. A fast foul sent Gettysburg to the line for a pair where one of two were made. Head Coach Mike Bowens called a timeout to draw up one final play with two seconds left, but the 3-point attempt was just off the mark as it hit the front end of the rim.
Inside The Numbers
- Bowie couldn't have asked to have a much better as he dropped a 30-piece on a night where he was 10-for-14 overall and 3-for-6 from range. He made 7-of-8 from the foul line, added five rebounds, and swiped four steals.
- Jones and Pierce both joined Bowie in double-figures. Jones was 5-for-10 overall and 3-for-4 on 3-point attempts to finish with 14 points. Pierce was 5-for-7 for 12 points with a team-high seven rebounds
- Both teams shot exceptionally well from the field. Wilson made 50.9% (27-of-53) from the field, while the Bullets were 50.8% (30-for-59).
- The 50.9% is the highest mark for the Phoenix in a single game since hitting 55.0% against Keyston on February 19, 2024. It's easily Wilson's best for a season opener and surpassed the previous mark of 45.8% against Goucher on November 10, 2018.
- Both squads received big momentum pushes from range as each team sank eight three-pointers.
- Lorenzo Carrara led the Bullets with 19 points off the bench. He was 6-for-9 from the field and 3-of-5 on treys. Three other Bullets joined him in double-figures.
- This is just the second time these two schools have met. The Phoenix also opened the season in the tournament in 2022 and fell to the Bullets 81-79.
Up Next
Wilson will take on Eastern in the consolation game on Saturday at 4 p.m. The Eagles fell to No. 2 Randolph-Macon 97-71 in the other half of the four-team bracket to set up Saturday's schedule.
