Courtesy of Wesley Athletics
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - Four Wesley College players scored between 12 and 15 points as the Wolverines picked up a 75-66 win over York (N.Y.) in the first round of the CNU Point Plaza Invitational.
Kyan Andrews (Seaford, Del./Woodbridge) led Wesley (2-2) with 15 points, while Darrell Johnson (New Castle, Del./Howard) added 14. Kevin Johnson (Smyrna, Del./Smyrna) added 13 points, including three three-point field goals, and Chris Douglas (Landover, Md./Jericho Prep Academy) chipped in with a dozen points.
The Cardinals' (1-4) All-American center Marcel Esonwune scored 33 points, grabbed 11 rebounds and blocked seven shots. Unfortunatley for York (N.Y.), the eight other players who saw action in the game combined for 33 points. Outside of Esonwune's 13-of-25 shooting, the rest of the Cardinals sank just 12-of-34 field goals.
York took an early 21-14 lead over the Wolverines on a put back by Phillippe Gregoire with 8:07 left. Wesley, however, went on a 15-4 run that put the Wolverines ahead 29-25 with 1:49 left after bucket by Andrews.
A layup by Esonwune tied the game with 36 seconds left, but Carl Parker's (Hyattsville, Md./Dematha Catholic) only points of the evening gave Wesley a 31-29 lead as the clock in the first half expired.
The second half featured large runs by both teams. Andrews had five points and an assist as the Wolverines opened the second half with a 12-2 run that stretched the lead to 43-31, less than three minutes after play resumed. York chipped away at the lead and a 14-4 run put the Cardinals' ahead by five with 9:16 remaining, 59-54.
The Wolverines immediately fired back, however, scoring the game's next 15 points to take a 69-59 lead with 4:08 on the clock.
Paul Reynolds (Smyrna, Del./Smyrna) failed to reach double digits with nine points, but led Wesley with nine rebounds, six steals and a pair of blocks.
The Wolverines had 15 steals in the game, resulting to 29 points off turnovers and a 14-2 edge in fast break points. Despite the presence of Osonwune, Wesley also outscored the Cardinals in the paint, 38-32.
Wesley awaits the winner of the Christopher Newport/Bridgewater in the championship game scheduled for 7:30 PM on Saturday, November 27.