Men's Basketball storms back against Talladega
TALLADEGA, Ala. - Wiley University men's basketball player Devon Barshow scored a career-high 29 points, which helped the Wildcats overcome a second-half deficit in a 62-57 victory over Talladega College in the first game of a Historically Black Colleges and Universities Athletic Conference Crossover Friday at the Billy C. Hawkins Student Activity Center.
The Wildcats (6-6, 4-4 HBCUAC) pick up their first road victory over the season and overcome a second-half deficit for the fourth time this season. It is their first win over the Tornadoes in program history.
Barshow shot 9-for-15, including 5-for-9 from 3-point territory, for his third game with 20 or more points. He added a team-high seven rebounds. Demarius Pitts followed with nine points and led the team with five assists. Jalen Bates contributed five points, five rebounds, four assists and three steals.
Wiley trailed 36-33 at halftime. It opened the second half with a seven-point run. Barshow hit a 3-pointer, Bates hit a jumper and Tayvion Fisher made a layup to give the Wildcats a four-point lead. They only hit one field goal in the next 10 minutes, which allowed Talladega to capture a 48-43 lead with 6:12 left.
Tre Booker hit a layup and was fouled. He completed the 3-point play to cut the margin to two with 2:54 remaining. Barshow tied the game at 55 with his fifth 3-pointer with 1:39 left. Bates got a steal and passed to Barshow, who was fouled attempting the go-ahead shot. He hit both free throws to give the Wildcats their first lead since early in the second half. Talladega tied the game on the ensuing possession. Pitts put Wiley back on top at the free throw line with 46 seconds left. Barshow hit a jumper to increase the lead to three. The Tornadoes turned it over and missed on a 3-pointer on their final two possessions.
The Wildcats outshot Talladega 45.7 to 44 percent, including 43.5 to 31.6 from 3-point territory. The Tornadoes outrebounded Wiley 33-24, but the turnover battle went to the Wildcats 18-13.
Wiley will visit Stillman College at 4 p.m. Saturday. The Tigers are one of three teams with one loss in conference play and defeated the University of the Virgin Islands 80-68.
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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