THE BASICS

-Score: Assumption University 75, Wilmington University 63 

-Records: Assumption University (2-0) (0-0 NE10), Wilmington University (0-2)

-Location: Worcester, Mass. (Laska Gymnasium)

-The Lead:  The Assumption University men's basketball team continued their 2021-22 season on Sunday with a victory over Wilmington in the Delta Hotel Doc Jacobs Tipoff Classic hosted by Saint Michael's. The Hounds led 32-22 at halftime and held off a Wildcats comeback to preserve the victory. 

HOW IT HAPPENED

- Both teams traded points for the first five minutes of the game, with the Hounds managing to take the lead on a Matthew Kelly (North Potomac, Md. / Quince Orchard) Three pointer and a jumper to push their lead to six. Kelly led the Hounds with nine points in the first half. 

-Jordan White (Prince Frederick, Md. / Clinton Christian School) was then able to add to the Assumption lead to stretch it to 20-11 with a layup and a three pointer of his own. 

-Omar El Sheikh (Giza, Eg. / The Knox School) was dominant on the glass for the Hounds with 10 rebounds in the first half while putting up six points. 

-Assumption went on a 6-2 run over the final three minutes of the first half. Every starter for the Hounds registered points in the first half with an all around effort. 

-Wilmington cut the Hounds lead down to one with three minutes into the second half off a Randy Rickards layup but Isiah Gaiter (Meriden, Conn. / Huntington Prep) responded immediately with a layup and sparked the Hounds to go on a 10-4 run over the next three minutes. 

-Wilmington was able to cut the Hounds lead to just four points with six minutes remaining in the game but a layup and made free throw from El Sheikh followed by a Cal Connelly (Rochester, N.H. / Tilton) three pointer gave the Hounds some breathing room. 

-Another made three pointer from Matt Kelly gave the Hounds an 11 point lead and an El Sheikh layup followed by a Njavan Stewart (Newton Upper Falls, Mass. / Newton South) three pointer sealed the game for the Hounds. 

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

-Omar El Sheikh finished the game with a double-double for the Hounds with 13 points and 16 rebounds (7 offensive, 9 defensive). 

-Assumption outrebounded Wilmington 51-50.

-Matthew Kelly led the Hounds with 21 points and three assists while Danny Walsh led the Wildcats with 15 points. 

- Assumption was 31-80 (38.8%) on two point attempts while Wilmington was 23-72 (31.9%)

UP NEXT

-The Hounds travel to Manchester, N.H. on Wednesday, November 17 to face off with SNHU. Tip off is set for 7:30PM. 

STAY CONNECTED

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