(CHAMBERSBURG, Pa.) – Wednesday's United East men's basketball slate saw Wilson go toe to toe with Penn State Harrisburg in a rugged 40-minute showdown. Ultimately the Phoenix succumbed to the Nittany Lions who are currently a half-game back of first place as the regular season enters its final stretch.
Four Phoenix scored in double figures with
Nirobi Peeler Jr. (Jr., Largo, Fla. / Clearwater / Millersville) pouring in 18 points to lead the way.
Armani Jones (Jr., Chicago, Ill. / Christ The King / Bryant & Stratton) showed out defensively with a double-double and five steals.
The Basics
Score: Wilson 67, Penn State Harrisburg 77
Venue: Gannett Memorial Field House
Records: Wilson 9-13, 7-6 UE; Penn State Harrisburg 15-7, 11-2 UE
How It Happened
- It was a slow start for the Wilson Blue and White as they were held off the scoreboard until Peeler Jr. hit his first of four 3-pointers nearly four minutes into the contest. It became a 3-point barrage as Harrisburg's Chris Henderson answered with his second-straight triple before Jones made it 10-6 with his first points. A trey by Tobias Reese (FY, Mansfield, Texas / St. Elizabeth (Del.)) closed the gap down to two for Wilson before Harrisburg stretched its lead out to double digits with a 14-4 run to make it a 29-17 ball game with 6:27 to go in the half.
- The Phoenix didn't go down quietly and returned the favor with their own 14-4 run before the halftime break. Reese generated more momentum with another 3-pointer to make it 33-26 with just under two minutes to play, and Trea Keys (Sr., Columbia, Md. / Wilde Lake / Howard C.C.) got into the mix and sent Wilson into the locker room with momentum on a buzzer-beating three to make it 33-31.
- Early in the second half another Peeler Jr. long-range shot gave Wilson its first lead at 37-36. He added another, his last of the game, to make it 44-44 with 13:36 to go. It was still a two-possession game after Winston Raford (So., Woodbridge, Va. / Forest Park) canned a 3-pointer to make it 66-62 with 2:33 on the clock, but the Nittany Lions started to pull away from there. Isaiah Eggleston and Henderson added back-to-back 3-pointers, and although Raford answered with another triple, it was as close as the Phoenix got the rest of the way.
Inside The Numbers
- Peeler Jr. finished the night with 18 points after he went 7-for-14 from the field with four 3-pointers. Defensively he posed a threat as well with three steals.
- Speaking of defense, Jones had an impressive game with 11 points and 10 rebounds. All 10 caroms were on the defensive end, and he added five steals. He now has over 200 rebounds for the season.
- Robertson and Reese both pitched in 10 points. Robertson dished out seven assists to also aid the offense.
- Eggleston led all players with 23 points for the Nittany Lions. He was 9-for-14 from the field and 3-for-4 behind the arc with six rebounds. Jordan Spence added 15 points, with nine rebounds.
- Teams combined for 20 3-pointers in the game. Wilson accounted for a dozen of them, the fourth time this season it has made at least 12. The Phoenix have made at least 10 on 12 occasions.
Up Next
With three games left in the regular season, the Phoenix are tied with Cairn and Saint Elizabeth for seventh place with a playoff spot already clinched. Seeds 5 through 8 will host first round games on Wednesday, February 19.
Wilson will head to Valley Forge on Saturday with the Patriots sitting at 5-8 in the conference standings and looking to clinch a playoff spot. Tip-off is slated for 2 p.m. in Phoenixville.
