Men's Basketball unable to finish off SUNO
Four Wiley University men's basketball players scored in double figures, but the Wildcats let a double-digit lead slip away in the second half of a 94-84 double overtime loss to Southern University at New Orleans in a Gulf Coast Athletic Conference game Saturday at Alumni Gymnasium.
The Wildcats (8-10, 4-6 GCAC) drop to 4-5 at home and haven't won consecutive games since opening conference play with two victories. It's their third loss when gaining a significant second-half advantage.
Delor Johnson led the team with 22 points - marking his eleventh game with 20 or more. He also recorded seven rebounds, five assists and six steals. Tayvion Fisher followed with 18 points, two rebounds and a steal off the bench. Devon Barshow notched a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds, while he added six steals. Demarius Pitts put up 13 points, two rebounds and three assists.
Wiley was outshot 45.9 to 41 percent. The big difference was on the boards, as it was outrebounded 62-40 - including 17-6 on the offensive glass. The Wildcats won the turnover battle 22-17 - outscoring the Knights 31-11 in points off turnovers.
Both teams held multiple leads in the first half. Wiley trailed by eight with 8:23 remaining in the first half. Pitts hit a 3-pointer, Johnson stole the ball and set up Barshow with a jump shot - cutting the margin to three. A second-chance bucket and one by Christian Beeke pulled the Wildcats within one. Johnson stole the ball and dunked it to put them ahead. Wiley led 36-31 at halftime.
It quickly pushed its lead to double digits on baskets by Johnson and Pitts. A steal by Fisher set up a dunk for Barshow, which gave the Wildcats its largest lead at 54-40 with 12:38 remaining. They suffered a scoring drought of nearly eight minutes. This allowed the Knights to score 16 unanswered - putting the Wildcats into a five-point hole.
Pitts ended the drought with a layup with 2:18 left. Barshow got a steal and laid it in while being fouled. He tied the game at 63 with 1:31 left. Southern-New Orleans retook the lead on a second-chance bucket. Pitts made a layup with 21 seconds left to tie the game. The Knights had two chances to win but both shots were off the mark.
In the first overtime, Southern-New Orleans took the first lead. Two steals set up a jumper by Barshow and a 3-pointer by Fisher, which gave the Wildcats a 71-68 lead with 1:43 remaining. Wiley was unable to seal the game as it went 1-for-3 from the free-throw line. Southern-New Orleans scored two second-chance baskets, including off a missed free throw to take a one-point lead. Johnson split his free throws to tie at 74 with six seconds left. The Knights attempted a game-winning three but missed.
Wiley was called for nine fouls in the second overtime and only hit three of seven shots. It allowed SUNO to make five of six attempts. The Wildcats were unable to gain the lead.
They will continue their homestand against Fisk University on Thursday. The Bulldogs are on a four-game winning streak but haven't played since January 13. Their games against Rust College and Tougaloo College were postponed due to weather.
For more coverage on the Wildcats visit Men's Basketball - Wiley University (wileyathletics.com)
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