Men’s Basketball Evens Conference Record with Win Over West Virginia Wesleyan
Wheeling, W. Va. - Entering play on Saturday, the Wheeling University Men's Basketball team (3-5, 2-2) were looking to even up their conference record, and position themselves to make a run in conference play. They were able to do just that when they defeated West Virginia Wesleyan inside the Alma Grace McDonough Center 83-60. Five different Cardinals finished in double digits on the day as the offense came together and allowed some bench players to get some minutes late in the game.
Right from the get-go, the Cardinals offense was rolling as they scored the first seven points of the game. SeniorJordan Reid,Jarett Haines, and juniorAndrew Tayloreach scored a bucket during the run and the Cardinals were out in front 7-0 three minutes into the game. At the 15-minute mark in the first half, the Cardinals extended their lead to 10-2 before the Bobcats got their offense going. They battled back to within four, going on a 6-0 run that made the score 10-6. However, any time that West Virginia Wesleyan battled back, Wheeling seemed to have an answer. The teams would trade points over the next five minutes, and the Cardinals held a 24-17 lead with 10 minutes left in the half.
The offense was well balanced throughout the night, but especially in the first half. Over the final 10 minutes before halftime, five different Cardinals were able to get on the board as the Wheeling lead continued to grow. As the half was coming to an end, the Cardinals were clinging to a 37-23 lead with a minute to go before the break.Jarett Haineswould catch fire in that final minute, putting up five more points, including a three to close out the half, that sent Wheeling into the break leading 40-26. As a unit, Wheeling shot 46.3% from the floor, and 38.46% from beyond the arc.
As the second half rolled around, the teams began going point for point with each other as they traded nine points to start the second half. West Virginia Wesleyan began to find they groove and got back to within nine points of the Cardinals with 14:44 remaining on the game clock. The Bobcats scored six points during that run and left Wheeling wondering if this was about to become another late-game dramatic thriller.
However, the Cardinals ensured that wouldn't happen this time, going on a 7-4 run that brought the score to 54-40. The Cardinals would never lead by less than ten points for the rest of the game as some of their bench players got into the game over the final two minutes of the game.Alex Humphreys,Jordan Beale, andGeorge Taylor IIIall checked in to the game over the final two minutes. Beale made the most of his opportunity, scoring five points over those final two minutes, as Wheeling finished out the 83-60 win.
Jordan Reidonce again led the offense with 18 points in the game, and now sits 27 points away from scoring 1,000 in his career. Jarett Haines(16),Jay Gentry(14), andBrent Price(13), andAndrew Taylor(12) all finished in double figures on the day. Along with being the team's top scorer, Reid picked up a double-double , leading the way with 10 rebounds on the day. Gentry added five rebounds on the day and helped lead Wheeling to their second conference victory of the season.
The Wheeling University Men's Basket