Wheeling, W. Va. - The last time the Wheeling University Men's Basketball team (3-4, 0-2) was inside the Alma Grace McDonough Center, they made some magic beating #10 CAL-U in overtime. The team returns home on Saturday, taking on Mountain East Conference (MEC) opponent West Virginia Wesleyan with tip-off at 4 PM. The Cardinals look to keep that momentum going as they play the first of back-to-back games on their home floor.
Wheeling is coming off a tough road loss last time out when they hit the road to battle Davis & Elkins. Through the first 20 minutes of play, it was a back and forth battle with neither team holding more than a six point lead at any point. The Cardinals were efficient from the floor, shooting 38.24% in the half, and a late defensive stand earned them a halftime lead. Wheeling shutdown the Senators over the final four minutes of play, and a 7-0 run sent them into halftime with a 34-30 lead. Both teams upped their efficiency over the final 20 minutes, with the Cardinals shooting 45.71% and the two teams combining for 117 points. However, the Cardinals would end up on the wrong side of the run, as Davis & Elkins scored 68 points and the Cardinals would fall 98-83.
After blossoming as the team's point guard a season ago, Sean Ealy has continued that success into his second full season with the team. He tied for the team lead against Davis & Elkins with 18 points, while registering 30 points two games ago in the win over #10 CAL-U. He shot 43.2% from the floor in the game, and tied for the team lead with three assists to wrap up a strong day. Ealy has been in double figures in all but two games this season, and is currently on his hottest streak of the season. Over his last three games, Ealy is averaging 21.7 PPG, while shooting 44,7% from the floor during that stretch. Ealy looks to continue to be a leader for the Cardinals as they wrap up the first half and search for that elusive first conference win of the season.
Another Cardinal who has been providing a spark for the team is Caleb Murray off the bench. He picked up 16 points against Davis & Elkins, and tied for the team lead with four three-pointers, going 4-6 (66.7%) from beyond the arc. It was the second time this season that the junior has hit four three-pointers in a game, and the first time since he went 4-11 against Salem. William Gabbert also continued his recent string of success, scoring 18 points to tie with Ealy for the team lead. Gabbert has taken on a bigger role in the starting lineup and has flourished, scoring double digit points in five of the seven games this season. He is averaging a career-best 11.7 PPG this season and continues to play big for the Cardinals under the net.
Wheeling has been home a lot throughout the 2024-2024 season, with this being their fourth home game already. The Cardinals have faired well on their home court, going 2-1, with all three games being decided by eight points or fewer. Wheeling continues their heavy home schedule into the Christmas break, with four of their next five games coming at home. The home court was a safe haven over the last two seasons, with the Cardinals going 8-7 in 15 home games compared to a 4-11 record when playing on the road. Wheeling looks to take advantage of their early season home schedule so they can ride the momentum into January and February.
The Matchup
The Cardinals and Bobcats are meeting for the 47th time in program history, with Wheeling leading the all-time series at 32-14. The Cardinals have also faired well at home against the Bobcats, going 12-6 inside the Alma Grace McDonough Center and 15-6 when playing on the road. Wheeling has had the most recent success in the series, winning six of the last seven meetings between the two teams, while averaging 79.22 points per game in the all-time series.
Their last meeting came on February 7th, 2024, in a game that Wheeling would win 84-63 on their home court. It would be Tee Harris jr. Leading the way for the Cardinals with his first career double-double, picking up 22 points and 11 rebounds while shooting 70% from the floor. The Cardinals would have four players in double figures on the day as former Cardinal Marcus Johnson (12), Sean Ealy (11), and Alex Yoakum (11) each hitting the mark, while Ealy led the way with eight assists.
The Details
Tip-off for Saturday's game is scheduled for 4 PM inside the Alma Grace McDonough Center. You can watch the game live by clicking HERE and follow along with Live Stats by clicking HERE.
