The Brescia University men’s basketball team picked up its most impressive win of the season with a 102-98 road victory over No. 11 WVU Tech on Saturday.
The Bearcats (8-7, 5-1) maintained their lead in the West Division of the River States Conference and handed the Golden Bears (14-3, 5-1) their first loss in RSC play.
Dillon Geralds led the effort for Brescia with 27 points and added 8 rebounds, while Kayode Daboiku added 20 points, 9 rebounds and 6 assists.
Head coach Brian Skortz said it was the bench that made the difference, as they contributed 26 points.
“The thing that stood out first and foremost was our bench really contributed some very key and import minutes tonight,” he said. “A few guys helped us pick up energy and helped us execute the game plan. They provided crucial minutes that you might not see in a stat line, but they made basketball plays.”
It took a late push to get the win, as Brescia trailed for the entire first half, going down by as many as 11 points twice midway through the opening period.
“We didn’t get off to a good start,” Skortz said. “We were a little flat coming in, especially defensively because we didn’t get back in transition.”
Down 36-26, Daboiku hit a 3-pointer and Geralds followed with a bucket to cut the lead to single digits for good.
The teams largely traded baskets until the break, but Daboiku ended the half with another 3-pointer and a pair of free throws to cut WVU Tech’s lead to 47-45.
“I’m proud of how we responded,” Skortz said. “At the break, we talked about our effort being more consistent and more importantly finishing off plays.”
The Bearcats took their first lead in the opening minute of the second half after Geralds converted an and-1, though a 10-0 run by the Golden Bears put them back up by nine.
Geralds helped keep the game close over the next several minutes, and back-to-back 3-pointers by Jachon Bivens-Crowder and Darion Morrow put Brescia up by 3 with 9:13 to play.
After a couple more lead changes, Geralds knocked down a 3-pointer for an 83-82 lead, and the Bearcats maintained a slim advantage over the final 7:56.
Daboiku went 6-for-6 from the free throw line down the stretch, but Skortz said the game was won at the other end of the floor.
“It came down to us executing down the stretch and making the plays defensively,” he said. “Key stops got us the lead, then hitting foul shots and taking care of the ball helped close the game out.”
It’s a signature win for the Bearcats, as the Golden Bears were the preseason favorite to win the conference. WVU Tech had not previously even been challenged by another team in the conference.
“Against teams of this caliber — two losses and undefeated in the league — we had to play at a high level,” Skortz said. “We play a very difficult nonconference schedule to get us ready for conference. It really played off for us tonight. I can’t be any prouder than I am tonight.”
Brescia will return home Tuesday to play Cincinnati Christian University at 7:30 p.m.
SCORING
Brescia 45-57–102
WVU Tech 47-51–98
Brescia: Dillon Geralds 27, Kayode Daboiku 20, Damontae Barnhill 16, Darion Morrow 12, Tristen Murray 11, Jachon Bivens-Crowder 7, Lez’ra Means 3, Zach McDaniel 2, Jalen Rose 2, Noah Cunningham 2
