Cards Hold on for Win

Wheeling, WV, Feb 4, 2010---Wheeling Jesuit men’s basketball team survives late run for an 82-80 victory over Davis & Elkins College (10-7, 8-5) on Thursday evening. The Cardinals improve to 12-6 on the season and 9-4 in the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.

During the first half of play, the Senators came out firing on all cylinders as junior Tim Turner found the bottom of the net on his first four 3-point attempts. D&E found themselves controlling a 10 point lead in the first five minutes.

Wheeling Jesuit’s freshmen Recardo Gaddy and Brenden Bazilio answered the challenge and led the Cardinals back into the game. Gaddy poured in 18 first half points while Bazilio recorded 10 points. Gaddy hit three triples in as many possessions, cutting the Senator lead to two. Bazilio drove the lane for an easy bucket, and Gaddy knocked down a shot from the top of the key, keeping the game within two.

Sophomore Obi Ukwuoma tied the game with an offensive rebound and a put back while junior Joe Suchy connected from downtown for a 41-40 lead with 1:32 remaining. Bazilio chipped in two additional points with time winding down for a 43-40 halftime lead.

After the break, the Cards opened with a 10-2 run and a 10 point advantage. They would go on to lead by as many as 12 points during the half, and saw a 10 point lead diminish in the last 1:10 of the game.

Sophomore Steve Catich drained back-to-back free throws with 34 seconds remaining, giving the Cardinals a six point lead. D&E recorded five points from the charity strip after two Cardinal fouls to cut the lead to two with one second left.

Gaddy paced the Cardinals with 21 points and Bazilio followed with 17. Ukwuoma recorded a double-double by pulling down a team high 15 boards and while chipping in 13 points. Andre Harris finished with 12 points.

The Cardinals shot 56 percent from the floor in the first half and finished at 53 percent for the game while controlling the glass 40-31.

The Cardinals will travel to Alderson Broaddus College on Saturday, February 6 for a 7:30 pm start.