NEWARK, Del. – In a game that was played within two possessions for its entirety, outside of 23 seconds, the HFU men's basketball team could not capitalize on late opportunities to tie the score or take the lead in a 62-64 loss at Wilmington on Wednesday night. 
 
Individual Highlights

• Eric Esposito (Langhorne, Pa./Conwell Egan) tied a game-high with 10 rebounds, while Malik Archer (Philadelphia, Pa./Mathematics,Civics & Science Charter School (Beaver County CC)) fell one point shy of a game-high with 14
• David Robinson Jr. (Philadelphia, Pa./Chestnut Hill Academy) was also in double-figures with 13, while Phil Brown Jr. (Hillside, N.J./Hudson Catholic (District of Columbia)) fell one point shy with nine 
• Jake McGonigle (Ocean City, N.J./Wildwood Catholic) led all players with six assists, one ahead of Aamir Hurst (Philadelphia, Pa./Neumann Goretti), who set a new season-best

 
Inside the Box Score

• Holy Family outscored Wilmington 36-24 in the paint, while winning the rebounding battle 45-39 for an 18-10 edge in second-chance points 
• The Tigers made two more field goals than the Wildcats, who made one additional 3-pointer and five extra free throws for what turned out to be the difference in the final score 

 
How it Happened 
First Half

• Josh Thomas (Queens, N.Y./Hodgson Vo-Tech (Cecil College)) gave HFU its largest advantage, producing the game's first five-point lead, 26-21, when his layup completed a 6-0 spurt 5:09 ahead of the break
• Wilmington came right back with a 4-16 surge for the game's largest advantage, 30-37, three and a half minutes later
• The Tigers would score the final six points of the half though, with two Tazir Cantey (Lindenwold, N.J./Eastern Regional) free throws making the score 36-37 entering the locker room

Second Half

• Archer 3-pointers tied the score at 39 and 42 in the opening 2:24, and aside from Wilmington leading by five twice, at 42-47 and 44-49 for 1:40, the entirety of the second half was played within a single possession 
• There were seven ties and four lead changes, with the final stalemate coming at 60-60 entering the final four and a half minutes
• After the two teams both made a foul shot, a Wildcats layup put them ahead 61-64 with 3:20 remaining
• Esposito made a free throw 19 seconds after, which turned out to be the final point of the contest
• The Holy Family defense was able to make five consecutive stops, but the Tigers could not capitalize on the other end

 
Up Next
Holy Family begins a three-game home-stand on Saturday, hosting Felician at 3 p.m.