DOVER, Del. - Wesley nearly came back from a 16-point deficit, but  Kevin Whaley three with 1:47 left helped York (Pa.) escape Wentworth Gymnasium with a 74-73 win over the Wolverines.

The Spartans (16-8, 10-5 CAC) led by 16 after  Mo Oursler layup made it 44-28 less than a minute into the second half.  Wesley (16-8, 12-3 CAC) slowly chipped away until three threes by Rudy Thomas (Milton, Del./Sussex Tech) accounted for all the Wolverines' scoring in a 9-2 run that 56-52 10 minutes later. 

York clung to the lead until a Paul Reynolds (Smyrna, Del./Smyrna) bucket knotted things at 62-62 with 6:06 on the game clock.  The Spartans took two more two-point leads, but another Reynolds basket and one by Kevin Johnson (Smyrna, Del./Smyrna) tied the game each time. 

After Johnson tied the game at 66-66, Darrell Johnson (New Castle, Del./Howard) scored to put the Wolverines ahead by two with 3:53 to play.  Paul Kouvaris tied it with two free throws at 68-68 before Darrell Johnson again gave Wesley a two point lead with 2:54 to go.

Whaley nailed a quick three on the Spartans next possession to recapture the lead for the visitors, 71-70.  But again, Darrell Johnson had the answer for Wesley, giving them a one-point advantage with 2:00 minutes remaining.

But it was Whaley who fired back for the Spartans just 13 seconds later for a 74-72 lead.  Darrell Johnson had a chance to tie the game with a pair of free throws with 58 seconds left, but made just the first. 

The Wolverines had two more chances in the closing seconds, but could not convert as York held on for the win.

The loss snapped Wesley's 15-game home win streak.

Darrell Johnson led the Wolverines with 19 points on 8-of-14 shooting.  Reynolds added 18 points and 10 rebounds, hitting 9-of-13 field goals.  Thomas finished with 13 points.

Kouvaris led the Spartans with 18 points on 7-of-8 from the floor, while Julian Watson and Whaley each had 13. 

Free throw shooting proved to be the difference in the game.  York sank 16-of-22, while the Wolverines managed just 8-of-18.

The game finalized the top three seeds in the upcoming CAC Tournament.  St. Mary's (Md.) clinched the top overall seed and will receive a first round bye, along with the second seeded Wolverines.  York (Pa.) claims the third seed with the win.

Wesley will close out the regular season at Mary Washington on Saturday, February 19.