(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – The temperatures outside may have been freezing, but Wilson was hot on the court in its win over Gallaudet in United East action on Saturday afternoon. Both teams shot 50% on the day, but a late run in the first half helped the Phoenix jump ahead of the Bison and keep the hosts at distance largely for the second half en route to the victory.
The Basics
Score: Wilson 86, Gallaudet 75
Venue: Gallaudet Field House
Records: Wilson 6-13, 2-5 UE; Gallaudet 2-13, 1-7 UE
How It Happened
- Gallaudet held the advantage for most of the first half, but Wilson stayed close the entire time until making a move late in the frame. Down with five minutes left in the half, Jalen Bowie (Sr., Frederick, Md. / Frederick / Shippensburg) made a steal and coasted in for a layup which sparked an 18-5 run that put the Phoenix in control. Following a miss on the Bison's return trip, Armani Jones (Sr., Chicago, Ill. / Christ The King / Bryant and Stratton) tied the game on a fastbreak layup on a dish from Jalen Pierce (Sr., Richmond, Va. / Collegiate / Millersville). Jaylin Davis (Sr., Hampton, Va. / Kecoughtan / Lynchburg) then sank a 3-pointer that put the Blue and White in front. A Davis triple and a Bowie layup put the Phoenix up nine in the final minute before a buzzer beating jumper by Jory Valencia made it 41-34 at the halftime break.
- Bowie kept the Phoenix on fire at the start of the second with back-to-back buckets to make the score 45-34. Just under four minutes in, Davis added a layup to bump up the lead to a dozen. Wilson wasn't out of the woods just yet as the Bison cut the deficit down to six at64-58 following four Alex Ortman layups. Wilson was able to answer soon after with Winston Raford (Jr., Woodbridge, Va. / Forest Park) downing a pair of 3-pointers to help push the lead to 74-63. Gallaudet scored the next six to get within five before Davis sank another trey for a 77-69 lead with 2:45 left in regulation.
- After the Bison scored a jumper on the return trip, the Phoenix started to make a living at the free throw line. Jones made 5-of-6 early in the process and Wilson was able to hold off any comeback attempt from the Bison afterwards.
Inside The Numbers
- Jones was unstoppable as he led the Phoenix with 23 points after going 7-for-8 from the field. He added eight rebounds and added two blocks defensively as well.
- Davis also hit the 20-point plateau while shooting 7-for-14 from the field. Fifteen of those came from range where he was 5-for-9 behind the arc. He added seven rebounds, six assists and two steals.
- Bowie was a point shy of a 20-spot himself and shot 9-of-14 from the field. He added five boards, five assists, and two steals to his line.
- Pierce had a fantastic all-around game as he turned in a double-double on 11 points and 12 assists. He nearly had a triple-double with eight rebounds.
- Gallaudet's Ortman led all players with 27 points. He was 12-for-16 from the field. Wyatt Carlson added 21 for the Bison.
Up Next
Wilson hosts Penn State Brandywine on Tuesday with a 5 p.m. tipoff.
