Second Half Surge Powers Wesley Win
SALISBURY, Md. - Wesley scored 63 points and hit 14 threes in the second half to overcome an icy first half and claim an 82-57 win over Salisbury in Capital Athletic Conference action.
The Wolverines (15-6, 11-1 CAC) hit 14-of-24 threes in the second half and shot 55 percent from the floor in the final 20 minutes to overcome a tepid start that saw Wesley sink just 1-of-18 field goals to open the game.
Salisbury (9-12, 6-6 CAC) led 24-9 before Wesley finally made its second field goal of the half, a James Stratton (Magnolia, Del./Caesar Rodney) jumper in the paint with just 4:36 to go before the break. The basket started the Wolverines' comeback as Wesley closed the half with a 10-2 run to pull to within seven, 26-19.
Evan Martin (Wilmington, Del./Laurinburg Institute {N.C.}) hit a pair of threes in the first 27 seconds of the second half to shave the Sea Gulls' lead to one, 26-25. A pair of free throws by Rudy Thomas (Milton, Del./Sussex Tech) with 17:25 go gave Wesley its first lead of the day as part of the Wolverines' 15-0 run to start the second half that quickly built a 34-26 lead with 16:06 left after a three by Thomas.
A Greg Palmer three cut it to five, 36-31, with 14:58 left, but Wesley pulled away and led by 16 just five minutes later on a three by Jermaine Carter (Richmond, Va./Thomas Jefferson).
Two more threes by Martin and Thomas, started a 14-4 run that put the game away over the final 3:42 of the contest.
Rashawn Johnson (Selbyville, Del./Sussex Tech) scored 22 points and tied Martin for the team lead with five rebounds. Martin and Stratton scored 13 each, while Thomas scored all 12 of his points in the second half.
Sean Whittaker hit all five of his field goal attempts for 12 points in the loss for Salisbury. He and Devin Jones had eight rebounds each.
The 57 points allowed tied for Wesley's best defensive effort of the year and the Sea Gulls' field goal percentage of 38.5 percent was the lowest by a Wolverine opponent in 2008-09.
The win was Wesley's 15th of the year, just two short of the school's Division III record of 17, set in 1987-88. It also gave the Wolverines a season sweep of Salisbury for the second straight year.
The Wolverines, who have won 12 of 13, will look to continue their winning ways when they travel to Hood College for an 8:00 PM tip off on Wednesday, February 11.
