Wolverines Fall in Nailbiter

Box Score

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. - A Brandon Altmann lay up with six seconds to play lifted the University of Mary Washington past Wesley College 91-90 in Capital Athletic Conference action.

The Wolverines (16-8, 12-3 CAC) were playing without the CAC's leading scorer, Rashawn Johnson (Selbyville, Del./Sussex Tech), who missed the game due to illness.  But his replacement, James Stratton (Magnolia, Del./Caesar Rodney) did his best impression of his teammate with 29 points on 10-of-19 shooting with six threes to lead Wesley.

Both teams built eight points leads in the first half, but a three by Stratton at the buzzer sent the teams to the locker room tied at 47-47.

The second half saw the lead change hands nine times and the teams tied nine on nine other occasions.  A basket by Altmann tied the game with 1:22 to play and Matt Hale gave the Eagles an 89-87 advantage with 42 seconds left.  Wesley's Jermaine Carter (Richmond, Va./Thomas Jefferson) drew a foul from Hale, but managed to make both the field goal and the free throw to put the Wolverines back ahead 90-89 with 29 seconds to go.  Mary Washington came down the floor and Ben Stokes got the ball to Altmann down low for the game-winner.

In addition to Stratton's big night, Wesley received 23 points from senior Evan Martin (Wilmington, Del./Laurinburg {N.C.} Institute) to go along with four assists.  Carter came off the bench for a career-high 12.  Sean McAndrew (Lanoka Harbor, N.J./Lacey Township) had eight rebounds.

Altmann poured in 21 points on 7-of-11 shooting and grabbed 17 rebounds in the win.  Hale hit five threes in the game and finished with 17 points.  Kevin Storus dished out six assists and scored 12 points.  Tad Dickman added 10 points.

Wesley hit 14-of-35 threes (40 percent), but the Eagles nailed 12-of-19 in the contest (63 percent). 

Despite Altmann's 17 boards, the Wolverines held a 37-34 advantage on the glass.

Wesley closes the regular season with a key battle atop the conference standings with St. Mary's (Md.). The winner will have the top seed in the CAC Championship Tournament.  Tip off in St. Mary's City, Maryland is set for 4:00 PM.