The only game in the region drew national media attention… but for the hometown fans in the City of Brotherly Love, Tuesday’s game did not go according to plan:
WILMINGTON 72 PHILADELPHIA 70
Tyaire Ponzo-Meek delivered 16 of his game-high 24 points in the second half, including two huge 3-pointers in the final three minutes as Wilmington rallied from a nine-point second-half deficit and stunned Philadelphia at the Gallagher Center, spoiling what many had expected to be Hall of Fame Coach Herb Magee’s 1,000th career victory celebration. The Wildcats – who led by nine early on (15-6) and never trailed in a first half that ended at 32-28 – were outscored 22-7 midway through the second period as they watched a 37-31 lead devolve into a 53-44 shortfall after a lay-up by T.J. Huggins with 10:29 to play. Still behind 62-57 inside of the final five minutes, the Cats got off the mat, unleashing a 13-3 run to reclaim a 70-65 advantage. Rashaun Rasheed, who collected 12 of his 14 points (5-6 FG) in 17 minutes of reserve time, tied the contest with a traditional 3-point play at the 3:15 mark, then Ponzo-Meek splashed both the go-ahead triple with 2:29 left and another big bomb with the shot clock expiring to cap the run with 43 seconds remaining. The Rams had some life left, however, pulling within 71-70 after three free throws by Nick Schlitzer (21 points, six rebounds, four assists) with 14 seconds on the clock. After Valentino Thompson split a pair at the line one second later, the Rams called timeout and, on a perfectly executed play, found an open Schlitzer on the left-wing. But the senior shooter’s 3-pointer for the win bounced off the back rim, providing an anticlimactic finish for the sellout crowd that came to witness history. Ponzo-Meek converted numerous contested shots and made 4-of-7 from long range, while Thompson added 18 points and six rebounds (the two combined for 19 points over the last 9:26), helping Wilmington stretch its win streak to four games... the program’s longest since a similar run in November of 2011. The win also solidified the club’s fourth-place standing in the CACC South. Peter Alexis – who gave Philly U its first lead (41-40) on a lay-up with 14:28 to go in the second half – finished with 17 points and eight boards. Huggins (12 points, four assists) and Derek Johnson (11 points, six rebounds) also reached double figures for the Rams, who saw a five-game win streak go by the boards in slipping to third place in the division. Magee – who never subbed in the game (one of his trademarks) – can join Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski as the only 1,000-win coaches in NCAA men’s basketball if the Rams defeat Post at home on Saturday.
POLL POSITION
The NABC/Division 2 Coaches' Poll and D2SIDA Media Poll are out
and provide similar results. In the former, no East team ranks in
the Top 25, with University of the Sciences, Southern Connecticut
and American International receiving votes. In the latter, AIC
slips two spots to #24, while USciences and Southern are receiving
votes. Lincoln Memorial (TN) replaces Indianapolis at #1 in both
polls.