CHESTERTOWN, Md. – Ranked a program-best 16th in the Nation prior to the game, the Wesley College men's basketball team utilized a second half full court press to defeat Washington College, 66-51, at Cain Athletic Center on Monday night. Winners of four straight, the Wolverines are now 9-1 on the year while the Shoremen fall to 3-8.
Four Wesley players scored in double figures, led by David Langan and Eric Selby with 14 points apiece. AJ Tilghman added 11 points and Anthony Bowers chipped in with ten along with a team-high five assists off the bench.
The Wolverines also shot a season-high 57.8% from the field and turned 23 Washington turnovers into 26 points.
Early on it looked like Wesley was going to run away with the game, opening up a 16-4 lead with 10:50 left in the half on a triple by Wayne Lennon. After four straight points by Bowers and a jumper by Selby, the Wolverines opened up their largest lead of the half at 22-6 with 8:40 left in the period.
However, a feisty Shoremen team fought to within five points with 2:19 left in the half on a three by John Weston. The 17-6 run by Washington prompted a timeout by Wesley head coach Jerry Kobasa and his team responded with three-straight layups by Tilghman and Bowers to close out the half.
Wesley led 34-23 at the half but after a jumper by Langan extended the Wolverines lead to 38-26 with 17:09 left in regulation, Washington scored 16 unanswered points to take a 42-38 lead with 11:29 left to play.
A layup by Quincy Pettiford with 10:56 stopped Wesley's drought and started a 10-0 run that gave the Wolverines the outright lead. The Wolverines would push their advantage to as many as 18 points with another 9-0 run later in the period.
Wednesday, January 8 will match a pair of nationally-ranked teams from the Capital Athletic Conference as Wesley visits No. 14 Christopher Newport in a 7 pm start.