WILMINGTON, Del. – It was one of the most balanced performances of the season for Post University Men's Basketball, despite a second-half threat from Wilmington University after the Eagles' 8-0 run to start the game, led them to a dominant double-digit lead at halftime. Holding off a late blitz from the Wildcats, Post came away with the 80-71 victory in Saturday afternoon's road matchup, pushing their win streak to two consecutive games.

The win for the Eagles marked the seventh consecutive time they have beaten Wilmington, dating back to the 2021-22 season, a program record in terms of longest win streak in the all-time series. During that win streak, Post has won four of the matchups at home and now three of them on the road.

THE BASIC

Post University 80, Wilmington University 71

Post University (6-10, 5-3 CACC)

Wilmington University (7-10, 3-6 CACC)

HOW IT HAPPENED
From the tip, Post never would trail in the first half of the affair as an 8-0 run to start the game, courtesy of scoring from three different starters, helped the Eagles control the tempo for the entire opening 20 minutes. Less than four minutes into the first half, graduate forward Derrick Thomas II's three-pointer gave Post their first double-digit lead of the game, 13-3, as the closest Wilmington would get was within five points, 15-10, at the 13:30 mark.

After a pair of free throws from junior guard Ta'Quan Williams with 8:04 remaining helped the Eagles regain their 10-point edge, they would lead by double digits for the rest of the first half. Junior guard Zion Lott would record five points during a 10-0 run by Post that helped make the lead a half-high 20 points, 42-22, which would be topped later on with graduate guard Cape Holden's three making it a 21-point game, 47-26, with the first half winding down.

In one of the most prolific shooting halves of the season, Post shot 58.6% from the floor, connecting on 17-of-29 shots and a staggering 61.5% of their three-point attempts, in which they were 8-for-13. Junior guard Akeem Taylor led Wilmington with over half their points with 16, going 5-for-7 from the floor, and accounting for over half of the field goals his team made.

Taylor's 5-for-7 showing was part of a Wildcats half that saw them go only 9-for-30 (30%) from the floor and 2-for-13 (15.4%) from three-point range. Post's balanced offensive attack saw both Lott and Williams lead the way with nine points each, the same number as sophomore forward Tre Hawkins, who was the second highest scorer for Wilmington had, while nine of the 10 Eagles who hit the floor recorded points.

However, a Hawkins jumper to kick off the second half for Wilmington would be the start of that double-digit lead slowly being chipped away at, as right off the bat, Wilmington would go on a 5-0 run that trimmed their deficit down to 14 points. Although Post's lead would hold steady for most of the opening 10 minutes in the second half, another run, this time of eight straight points, as the midway mark of the half approached, brought the Wildcats within just two points, 56-54, after a three from sophomore guard Denim Perkins.

At the 6:16 mark, Wilmington would tie the game up for the first time in the entirety of the game with a three from Taylor at 61 all before Post punched back with four straight points from graduate forward Gianni Thompson and Williams to regain a four-point edge. Yet again, the Wildcats answered the call, this time taking their first lead of the game, 66-65, after Perkins connected on a pair of free throws following a three-point play from senior guard Justin Perez.

Perez would give Wilmington their largest lead of the game at two points, 69-67, with his three moments later, which was answered with a three by Williams that started an 8-0 run for Post inside of three minutes to go, giving the Eagles the lead for good. During that run, Williams had six points as part of his 20-point performance on 7-of-10 shooting with 11 second-half points as the Eagles held off the rally by the Wildcats for an 80-71 win.

Cooling off from their big first-half performance, Post shot just 37.5% (9-for-24) in the second half, as it was Wilmington found their stroke with a 42.8% performance (15-for-35), led by 21 points from Taylor and a double-double from Hawkins with 18 points and 10 rebounds. Thomas II would finish with his third double-double of the year for the Eagles, adding 13 points and 10 rebounds as Post held a 45-35 edge in boards, led by the graduate student and junior forward Deng Akok's 10 rebounds as well in the win. 
 
BY THE NUMBERS

• Derrick Thomas II finished with his third double-double of the season, scoring 13 points while tacking on 10 rebounds -- Thomas II was tied for the team-lead in rebounds with Deng Akok, who also had 10 in the game
• Tre Hawkins closed with a double-double for Wilmington University, scoring 18 points on 7-for-15 shooting while adding 10 rebounds
• At halftime this season, Post University entered the day a perfect 5-0 when leading at halftime, while being 1-9 when trailing and 0-1 when tied
• Post University has now won a program-record seven consecutive games against Wilmington University, dating back to the 2021-22 season – During that seven-game winning streak, four of those wins have come at home in the Drubner Center

WHO'S NEXT
Returning home on Tuesday, Post University faces conference preseason favorite Dominican (N.Y.) in the Drubner Center at 7:30 PM. The two teams have split their last four matchups against each other, with the Eagles winning the most recent game in overtime last year, 95-89, back in February.