Vienna, W.Va.—The Wheeling Jesuit men’s basketball received a 30-point performance from Recardo Gaddy in a battle on the road against the Fighting Scots of Ohio Valley University. The Cardinals outlasted the Scots 93-87, improving to 17-8 overall and 13-6 in WVIAC play while OVU fell to 6-16 overall and 6-13 in league play.
Gaddy, a junior from Beltsville, Maryland, was red-hot from the floor, shooting 9-for-16, which included a 6-for-9 performance from downtown. He scorched the Scots for 19 second-half points, including five during the Cardinals 16-0 scoreboard overhaul.
With 6:38 remaining in regulation, the Fighting Scots took their largest lead of the game at 72-61, and nine seconds later, Ben Siefert found Obi Ukwuoma for a layup which ignited the impressive scoring drive.
The Cardinals turned up the defensive pressure during the run, forcing six turnovers and scoring eight points. Steve Catich followed Ukwuoma’s initial bucket and Gaddy knocked down a long-distance shot. Ukwuoma added two consecutive layups and Gaddy nailed two free throws. Ukwuoma finished the run with a layup, scoring eight points in three minutes, as the Cards took a 77-72 lead.
The Cardinals increased the lead to as many as nine points, 88-79, with 1:02 left to play and held on for a six-point 93-87 WVIAC victory.
Siefert followed Gaddy’s lead, scoring 20 points on 6-of-11 shooting and an 8-for-10 effort from the foul line, while dishing out eight assists. Ukwuoma finished with 19 points, going 9-for-12 from the field, and Catich added 16 points.
After trailing 21-18 on the glass in the first half, Jesuit outrebounded OVU 19-11 in the second half for a 37-32 advantage. Catich pulled down a team-high eight boards while Siefert, Ukwuoma, and Marquis Moore grabbed seven rebounds each.
Wheeling Jesuit will be back in action at the Alma Grace McDonough Center on Saturday, February 18 against Bluefield State College. Game time is scheduled for 4 p.m. In addition, the Saturday game will be part of the WJU basketball alumni weekend. All former WJU players are invited to attend. Please contact head coach Danny Sancomb for more details.
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