Men's Basketball claws past Fisk
WILBERFORCE, OHIO - Wiley University men's basketball players Tayvion Fisher, Cortez Collins and Demarius Pitts score in double digits, leading the Wildcats to a 75-60 victory over Fisk University Monday in a Historically Black Colleges and Universities Athletic Conference Crossover at Wilberforce University's Gaston Lewis Arena.
The Wildcats (5-5, 3-3 HBCUAC) win consecutive games for the second time. It's the first time they've won consecutive conference games since January 25-February 8. The victory gives the Wildcats the series lead over Fisk.
Fisher led the team with 13 points on five made baskets, including three from 3-point territory. He also added two rebounds, two steals and an assist. Collins had his most productive game in a Wiley uniform with 12 points and five rebounds. Pitts followed with 11 points on two made field goals and went 6-for-6 from the free throw line. All 11 Wildcats scored. Jalen Bates provided five points, five rebounds, five assists and four steals. Taj Toney contributed eight points and a team-high seven rebounds.
Wiley led nearly the entire game. A 3-pointer and a pair of free throws from Pitts sparked a 12-point run. Collins got an offensive putback and Fisher hit a 3-pointer to put Wiley ahead by 10. Over the next four minutes, it only made one field goal, which allowed Fisk to trim the margin to three. Toney ended the drought with a 3-pointer with 11:29 left in the first half. Fisher hit a 3-pointer and a jumper to give Wiley a 33-19 lead. It led by as many as 19 but was held scoreless in the last 2:49 of the first half and held a nine-point lead at halftime.
The Wildcats only hit one field goal in the first nine minutes of the second half. Eight missed shots and a turnover let Fisk pull within three. Collins made a tip-in and a layup. Toney followed with a 3-pointer to increase Wiley's lead to 58-46 with 8:26 left in the game. Bates hit a 3-pointer and stole the ball which set up a layup for Devon Barshow, increasing the lead to 15. Bobby Baker III got a steal and layup to give the Wildcats a 21-point advantage with four minutes remaining.
They outshot the Bulldogs 39.6 to 34.5 percent and made the most of their free throws - hitting 26 of 34 (76.5 percent). Wiley outrebounded Fisk 43-32. It also won the turnover battle 19-12.
The Wildcats will close its first HBCUAC Crossover against Voorhees University at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Athletes in Action Headquarters. The Tigers picked up their first conference victory against the University of the Virgin Islands on Saturday.
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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