Wheeling, W. Va. – The Wheeling University Men's Basketball team (2-10, 0-6) capped off 2022 with an Ohio Valley matchup against Franciscan Friday inside the Alma Grace McDonough Center. The Cardinals got contributions up and down the bench, as they capped off 2022 with a big 88-64 win. 12 different Cardinals registered at least two points on the night as the Cardinals got momentum heading into 2023.

Leading the way for the Cardinals once again was sophomore Marcus Johnson, who went over the 20 point mark for the fourth time this season. Johnson finished the night with 20 points and just missed a double-double with nine rebounds. S.J. Hutchinson finished behind him with a big second half, putting up 18 points, including a 7-11 mark from the floor. Andrew Taylor would be the lone player to pick up a double-double on the night, finishing with 12 points and 10 rebounds for his first of the season. Ryan Reasbeck and George Taylor III finished out the team's top five scorers with eight and six points respectively. As the game was coming to a close Raef Wykes (3) scored the first points of his career while Caleb Murray we a career best with seven points.

The Cardinals offense came out strong right from the get-go, scoring the game's first seven points of the night. George Taylor III got things going with a three and from there the offense rolled to a 7-0 lead. However, Franciscan would work right back into the game, going on a 6-2 run of their own and it was suddenly turned into a 9-6 Cardinal advantage. Marcus Johnson would squash the Baron run, and two more layups from Andrew Taylor had the Cardinals out in front 15-8 by the first media timeout. With the first wave of subs, the bench began to make their presence felt as Kevin Coleman Jr and William Gabbert each hit shots to help increase the Wheeling lead to 24-15 as the second media timeout hit. 

Reasbeck hit a three coming out of the media timeout, and two Johnson layups would bring the score to 31-20. The Cardinal's three-point shot was working over the final 10 minutes, hitting two threes during that span as they extended the advantage to 45-29. Franciscan added five more points over the final three minutes and a Johnson layup sent the team into the locker room leading 47-34. The Cardinals were efficient from the floor, shooting 54% in the first half and put up the most points they have scored in a single half this season. As the second half came around, the Cardinals looked to continue their success and start to see some more of their bench players get some game experience.

However, as the second half began, it was Franciscan that would come out hot. After the team's traded layups to start the half, Franciscan would go on a short 5-0 run that made it a six-point game at 49-42. Johnson hit a layup to break the Baron Run and get wheeling going again. The Cardinals would rattle off a 9-2 run that turned it into a 60-44 game with 12:52 to play. Hutchinson, who made his first career start on the afternoon, hit a pair of layups and a Reasbeck jumper made it a 20-point game with 9:47 to play. With the lead in hand, Head Coach Chris Richardson used the game's final nine minutes as an opportunity to get some of his freshman and new guys on the floor.

Caleb Murray was the first to get his opportunity, and picked up his first points of the night with 6:08 to play. After a Zion Suddeth steal, Murray took a pass from Reasbeck under the net and laid it up in for to make it a 78-48 game. Murray added a three-pointer and another layup on the day as he set his new career-high with seven points. As the clock ticked under five, Raef Wykes and Trevor Beresford each checked in as they looked to close things out. Wykes got on the board at the 2:10 mark, hitting his first career three for his first career points. Murray's final three would end the night as Wheeling picked up their first win since November 15th, 88-64.

With non-conference play now in the rearview mirror, Wheeling will look ahead to Mountain East Conference play in 2023. They return to action on Wednesday, January 4th, when they travel to Glenville State at 7:30 PM.