WATERBURY, Conn. – It was a game that Post University Men's Basketball needed to have in a tight Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference North Division race. With only one game separating them from being in the top four and outside of it, the stakes were high heading into their matchup against Wilmington University on Saturday afternoon.
 
With Caldwell University nipping at their heels, graduate forward Harrison Warnock's buzzer-beating jumper and some big free throws by junior point guard Bol Akot helped the Eagles come back from eight down with 1:43 left in regulation to steal an 80-78 victory over the Wildcats in overtime.

THE BASICS

Post University 80, Wilmington University 78 (OT)

Post University (15-6, 6-4 CACC)

Wilmington University (12-11, 6-3 CACC)

HOW IT HAPPENED
It was a rough shooting day for both sides as the Eagles finished the game shooting just 32.9% from the floor, going 25-for-76 overall. On the other end, Wilmington fared only slightly better with a 42.4% performance on the day which saw them hit 28-of-66 total shots. Post would have a 15-14 lead with 14 minutes remaining in the first half when the Wildcats embarked on a 9-0 run led by four different players to take an eight-point lead.
 
That lead would remain steady throughout most of the first half before a 9-2 run through the waning moments would flip the score in favor of Post. Over the final 1:35, the Eagles scored the final eight points to take a four-point lead into the break, 37-33, despite a 36.1% shooting half.
 
After taking a six-point lead to start the second half, an 11-0 run for the Wildcats which stretched nearly five minutes gave them the lead back, 44-39. The run was led by the game's leading scorer senior guard Taalib Holloman with four points, Holloman finished the day with 22 total points. Wilmington's lead would stretch to as many as 11 points with 5:08 remaining in regulation, putting the Eagles on the brink of a third straight loss.
 
Then came the big run down eight points at the 1:43 mark starting with a three from freshman point guard Ta'Quan Williams and after a Holloman turnover, Warnock's layup and free throw made it a two-point game with 1:08 left. Junior center Nalik Veasley's layup looked like the dagger for Post before Warnock responded with a layup of his own and then Post forced a turnover with 10 seconds for a chance at the game-tying shot.
 
The ball would be in Akot's hands for the potential game-winning three which was blocked by senior guard Amiri Stewart and ended up in the hands of Warnock who hit the buzzer-beater that tied things up at 67 heading into overtime.
 
In a down-to-the-wire five-minute frame, six straight points from Stewart to open things up looked to give the Wildcats control once more before five straight free throws from Akot narrowed the deficit down to one, 73-72, with under two minutes left. After a Holloman free throw, Williams hit another three with 1:26 remaining to give Post their first lead of overtime, 75-74.
 
It would be a free throw game the rest of the way as the Eagles made five free throws to the Wildcats' two, completing the comeback with an 80-78 overtime victory in a game where they made 26-of-30 free throws when all was set and done.
 
BY THE NUMBERS

• Deng Deang registered his fifth double-double of the season, scoring 17 points on 7-of-17 shooting and grabbing 11 rebounds before fouling out in the second half
• Taalib Holloman scored a team-high 22 points on 9-of-15 shooting while Amiri Stewart was just behind him with 20 points on 6-of-11 shooting for Wilmington University
• Post University is now 10-1 this season when leading at halftime and 3-0 in games that reach overtime
• Post University has now won four straight games against Wilmington University dating back to the 2021-22 season

WHO'S NEXT
Post University heads on the road for a rematch against Bloomfield College on Wednesday evening at 7:30 PM down in Bloomfield, New Jersey. Earlier this season, the Eagles escaped with a 72-69 victory at home against the Bears, snapping a two-game losing skid against them. In the all-time series, Bloomfield College holds a 27-17 lead overall.