Men's Basketball prepares for Tense Showdowns against SUNO, DIllard

The Wiley University men's basketball team begin a three-game road trip against Southern University at New Orleans at 8 p.m. Thursday and Dillard University at 3 p.m. Saturday, in games crucial to seeding for the 2025 Historically Black Colleges and Universities Athletic Conference (HBCUAC) Championship.

Thursday's game will be streamed on the Wiley University Channel on the Urban Edge Network, a free app fans can download to their favorite streaming devices. Saturday's game will be on Dillard University's Hudl Channel. Live statistics will be available for both games. The links are listed in the men's basketball schedule on wileyathletics.com

The Wildcats (8-11, 6-8 HBCUAC) are on a three-game losing streak. They got a boost with Demarius Pitts' return to the lineup. He made significant contributions by averaging 10.5 points in his last week's games. Devon Barshow remains a crucial asset, having recorded 20 points against Arkansas Baptist early this month for his fourth game with 20 or more points.

The Knights (10-14, 9-6 HBCUAC) have also struggled as of late, falling in four of their last six games. Their star Jamal Gibson leads the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics with 15.9 rebounds and is a significant scorer in the conference with 23 points per game, closely followed by teammate Tyon Thompson who is averaging 14.3.

Dillard (16-7, 12-3) is contending for the HBCUAC regular season title and an automatic berth into the NAIA Men's Basketball Championship Opening Round. It trails Tougaloo College by a half game and meets Philander Smith University before facing the Wildcats on Saturday in its HBCUAC finale. Tory Cargo leads the Bleu Devils with 15.5 points per game and is one of five averaging double figures. Bentravin Phillips follows at 13.8 points per game. Armond Williams is averaging 11.2 points and 7.1 rebounds per game.

The Wildcats lead the series against the Knights 11-6 and 4-1 since they became conference opponents in 2022. Their last two meetings went to overtime with Wiley prevailing 91-80 on November 14 and the Knights winning 94-84 in double overtime on January 20, 2024. Wiley holds a 9-8 series edge against the Bleu Devils. The road team has won the last three games.

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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