Men's Basketball falters in Second Half
Wiley University men's basketball player Tayvion Fisher records his fifth game of scoring 20 or more points, but a second-half scoring drought allowed Dillard University to rally in a 74-71 loss in a Historically Black Colleges and Universities Athletic Conference (HBCUAC) game Saturday at Alumni Gymnasium.
Fisher scored 24 points on an 8-for-16 shooting performance. Most of his shots were from 3-point territory, as he made six of 13. He also added seven rebounds, an assist and a steal. Devon Barshow followed with 19 points on five 3-pointers. He contributed five rebounds and an assist. Their teammates struggled, only hitting 11 of 30 shot attempts. Jalen Bates posted seven assists, six rebounds and two steals.
The Wildcats (3-3, 1-1 HBCUAC) led 32-26 at halftime. Fisher powered Wiley's offense with three 3-pointers. On defense, they held Dillard to a 27.3 shooting percentage. The Wildcats were ahead by as many as nine after two layups by Fisher. They went three minutes without hitting a field goal and the Bleu Devils trimmed the lead to three. Barshow hit a jumper and layup to increase the margin to eight.
A layup by Treagan Lockett and a fast break dunk by Demarius Pitts gave Wiley a 40-31 lead early in the second half. It would only make one field goal in the next three minutes allowing Dillard to pull within three. Fisher and Pitts pushed the lead back to nine with three-pointers. Pitts followed with a fastbreak layup to give the Wildcats an 11-point lead.
Wiley missed six of its next seven shots, which let Dillard cut the lead to one. Fisher hit a 3-pointer with 7:44 left to increase the lead to four but the Wildcats were held scoreless for the next three minutes. They missed three shots and the Bleu Devils took advantage and built a 62-55 lead with 4:25 remaining. Dillard led by as many as nine with 1:11 left in the game.
Barshow hit two 3-pointers to pull Wiley within two with three seconds left. The Bleu Devils split their free throws which gave Wiley a chance to tie the game. Bates' heave was intercepted as time expired.
The Wildcats were slightly outshot 39.7 to 39.4 percent but shot better from 3-point range, as it hit 12 of 36 attempts compared to Dillard's eight in 32 attempts. The Bleu Devils had the advantage at the free throw line, making 16 of 22 while Wiley converted seven of 11. Both teams grabbed 42 rebounds. The Wildcats lost the turnover battle 13-9 but outscored Dillard 17-11 in points off turnovers.
Wiley will resume HBCUAC play at Tougaloo College on November 23. The Bulldogs defeated Southeastern Baptist for its second win of the season. They open conference play against Philander Smith University on November 21.
For more coverage on the Wildcats visit https://wileyathletics.com/sports/mbkb/index
About Wiley University Athletics
Wiley University sponsors 12 varsity sports, women's volleyball, men's and women's soccer, men's and women's cross country, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's indoor track and field, men's and women's outdoor track and field and baseball. It competes in the Historically Black Colleges and Universities Athletic Conference (HBCUAC) and the Continental Athletic Conference for men's and women's soccer.
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