Wesley Wins Ninth Straight
DOVER, Del. - Rashawn Johnson (Selbyville, Del./Sussex Tech) and Alphonzo Wright (Dover, Del./Polytech) each had double-doubles as Wesley College ran its win streak to nine games with a 108-99 win over The College of New Jersey at Wentworth Gymnasium.
Johnson poured in 30 points and hauled in 10 rebounds as he scored at least 30 for the third time in the last four games. The senior hit 10-of-11 free throws in the contest.
Wright, meanwhile, had 15 points on 6-of-8 shooting and grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds.
Wesley (12-5) led by just one, 36-35, with 5:51 to go in the first half before one of Evan Martin's (Wilmington, Del./Laurinburg {N.C.}) six threes on the evening started an 14-4 run that built the lead to 50-39. Rudy Thomas (Milton, Del./Sussex Tech) scored seven of his 15 points during the run. Thomas would hit another jumper at the buzzer to send Wesley into the locker room up 56-45.
The Lions (8-9) came out firing in the second half with a 10-2 run that whittled the Wolverines lead to just three after a three by Aaron Syvertsen made it 58-55 with 17:07 to play.
Another three by Thomas and two from deep by Kevin Johnson (Smyrna, Del./Smyrna) fueled an 11-0 surge as the Wolverines expanded their lead to 69-55 after a pair of Rashawn Johnson free throws with 14:38 to go.
After a tip in by Jacques Bowe (Millsboro, Del./Sussex Tech) stretched it to 17, 82-65, with 9:50 to go, two more threes by Syvertsen powered a 19-5 TCNJ run as the Lions slashed the Wesley lead to just three with 4:26 to go, 87-84.
Two layups by James Stratton (Magnolia, Del./Caesar Rodney) and a dunk and a three-point play by Rashawn Johnson quickly got the lead back to 10, 96-86 with 2:27 to go. The Lions could not get closer than four the rest of the way as the Wolverines hit 10-of-12 free throws in the final minute.
Wesley's sixth straight game over 90 points overshadowed 23 points by a sharpshooting Syvertsen. Syvertsen hit seven threes in the ball game he and another player combined for 32 of the Lions' 52 second half points.
Martin's 6-of-8 performance from beyond the arc led to 23 points. Thomas dished out six assists for the Wolverines.
Wesley made 25-of-32 free throws in the game. TCNJ, meanwhile, attempted just eight the entire evening, making seven.
Wesley will get a well earned four day break after playing nine games - all wins - in 19 days, before traveling to Gallaudet on Saturday, January 31 as the teams kick off the second half of the conference schedule.
