OLD WESTBURY, N.Y. - - Isiah Mason's game-tying three-pointer with two seconds left rimmed out as the Wilmington University men's basketball team had its two-game winning streak snapped as the New York Institute of Technology edged the Wildcats, 73-72, in nonconference action at Recreation Hall on Monday night.
Free throws played a major role in Monday night's game as Wilmington (4-12 overall) missed eight from the foul line which enabled NYIT (10-5 overall) to hold the advantage. The Bears kept the Wildcats in the contest by going 20-for-33 from the line, including only hitting one-of-two with five seconds remaining to give the Wildcats a game-tying attempt.
Trailing by eight points with 6:21 remaining in the second half, the Wildcats made a push to get back into the contest. Following a three-pointer from big man Brandon Fox, Herb Dennis converted a layup to cut the deficit to two points at 64-62 with 4:39 remaining in regulation. The Bears extended the lead back out to five points with just over a minute to play before the Wildcats made a final push.
Shaq Gaskins started the last minute rally by hitting one of two free throws before Fox laid one home to cut the deficit down to two points with 41 seconds showing on the scoreboard. Following an Azel Prather, Jr. layup with 21 seconds remaining, in which he missed the free throw to convert the three-point play, Dennis converted his own layup to cut the deficit to two points with only seven seconds showing on the scoreboard.
The Wildcats fouled Dominic Scurry with five second remaining, sending him to the line for two more foul shots. After missing the first of two foul shots, Scurry converted the second to put the Bears up 73-70 with only seconds showing on the scoreboard. The Wildcats moved the ball down court and found Mason open for a game-tying three with two seconds left, but the attempt was off the mark. Dennis put back the rebound as time expired to bring the final score to 73-72.
Dennis finished with a team high 18 points, hitting all six of his free throws on a night in which both teams struggled from the line. Fox added 14 points and a team high seven rebounds, hitting two three-pointers and shooting 5-for-12 overall. Freshman Tajee Almon scored a career high 11 points off the bench, hitting on 4-of-7 shots in only 20 minutes. Overall, all nine Wildcats that saw action on Monday night chipped in with at least one two-point bucket.
Wilmington took its largest lead of the night on a three-pointer from junior Rob Byrd at the 18:34 mark of the second half, turning the fifth tie into a 34-31 advantage. The Bears then went on a 7-0 run to take a four-point lead, a lead they would not relinquish.
Kayvon Roberts, the Bears leading scorer, led the home team with a game high 24 points, shooting 8-for-15 from the floor including 3-for-7 from three. He also added a double-double for the Bears, recording 12 rebounds. Prather also recorded a double-double, scoring 13 points and adding 12 rebounds. Scurry was the final Bear in double digits, scoring 11 points from hitting 7-of-8 free throws.
Although the loss ended a two-game winning streak for the Wildcats, the Green and White return to Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference play where the 2-0 stretch still stands. Standing at 4-4 in the CACC South Division standings, the Wildcats can move into one of the four playoff spots in the South Division with a win over a 4-2 Holy Family team. The Wildcats head to Philadelphia for a 1:00 p.m. start.