Wheeling, W. Va. – Over their last eight games, the Wheeling University Men's Basketball team (13-7, 8-5) has been led by an offensive surge that has seen them average over 90 points per game. The shots kept soaring on Wednesday as the Cardinals welcomed in West Virginia Wesleyan, earning a 103-72 win. The Cardinals reached the 100 point plateau for the fourth time during that stretch, as 11 different Cardinals got in on the scoring and 15 different players saw time on the floor.
Leading the charge for the third straight game was senior Caleb Murray, who tied his career-high with 30 points in the effort. It was the second time during this eight-game stretch that Murray has reached 30 point plateau, using the three ball to get him there. He would finish 6-11 (54 5%) from three-point range, including a run of three consecutive three pointers as the second half began. Of his six three pointers, four would come over the final 20 minutes of play as he led the Cardinals on the night. His partner in crime during the second half was Tee Harris Jr., who finished right behind him with 17 points. He secured his third double-double of the season, finishing with a team-best 11 rebounds on the day, while scoring eight of his 17 points in the second half. Along with his offensive success, Harris has been a force under the net with three blocks to go along with his 11 rebounds as he continues his strong junior season.
Throughout the night, the Cardinal bendh would play a key role in the Cardinal's offensive success. Leading the charge with several big buckets in the paint was Trevor Beresford, who set a career high with nine points in the effort. Beresford was called on to play in. The post and was efficient with his opportunities, shooting 4-5 from the floor. He added five rebounds and one assist to round out the day, as he combined with Harris and Curtis Harrison IV to lead the charge with 50 points in the paint. As the game came down to its final two and a half minutes, Head Coach Chris Richardson would go even further into his depth, and they would get the Cardinals over the 100-point mark. After subbing in, Elijah Edwards came down the floor and hit a three that made it a 101-63 game. On the next possession, the Cardinals would work back into the paint and Drew Fitzwater would go under the basket for the layup. It would be the final Cardinal score of the night and, despite the last nine points going to the Bobcats, Wheeling had a more than comfortable lead as they picked up the 103-72 win.
It was another efficient night from the floor for the Cardinals, with the team shooting 49.2%. They would hit 15 three pointers on the night, but it would be their work under the net that made the difference. The Cardinals scored 50 of their 103 points in the paint, with 24 of those points coming in second chance opportunities. The Wheeling defense was lethal throughout the night as well, picking up eight steals and forcing 13 turnovers. Wheeling would get 13 points off those turnovers, and 15 total points in transition. It was a hot start that got the Cardinals going and, despite the Bobcats making it a game right before halftime, the Cardinals never lost control of the lead. The win moved the Cardinal's magic number to clinch a playoff spot to one, with a chance to clinch that spot this weekend.
The Cardinals would set the tone early, going on a 12-2 run that lasted the first five minutes of play. Curtis Harrison IV was the catalyst for the run, hitting the game's first bucket on Wheeling's first possession, and accounting for six of the team's 12 points on the run. The Cardinal defense held the Bobcats at bay throughout the run and Tee Harris Jr. Would hit a jumper that sent the game into the media timeout with the Cardinals clinging to a 12-2 advantage. West Virginia Wesleyan would break the run on the back half of the break, and slowly began to battle back in the game. Alex Smith hit a three-pointer that accounted for the only three Cardinal points over the next three minutes, before Murray hit from beyond the arc to make it an 18-10 game. It was West Virginia Wesleyan's turn to hit a run, scoring eight of the next 10 points and at the 10-minute mark the Cardinals lead shrunk to 20-18.
Head Coach Chris Richardson would go to a line change coming out of the media timeout, and, after the Bobcats tied the game, Jerry Saunders Jr. Would get things going back in the Cardinal's favor with a three. Trevor Beresford added four big points in the paint, but as the final media timeout loomed, West Virginia Wesleyan had made it a 30-28 game. Murray hit a pair of free throws and Harrison added a 1-2 mark from the charity stripe to send the Cardinals into the media timeout holding a 33-28 lead. The final five minutes of the half would see the starters return and the offense return with it. Wheeling outscored the Bobcats 15-6 down the final stretch of the first half, with the three ball playing a big role. Ayden Goll and Murray both hit three's down the stretch and, despite a West Virginia Wesleyan three heading into the locker room, the Cardinals held tight with a 45-34 advantage. The second half would see the Cardinals expand on the lead and cap off their 13th win of the season.
The Wheeling University Men's Basketball team returns to action on Saturday, February 7th, when they travel to Davis & Elkins with tip-off at 4 PM.
