Great Shooting Leads Wesley to Semifinals

Rudy Thomas

Box Score

SALISBURY, Md. - Wesley hit 17 of its first 21 shots to open the game and cruised to cruise to an 82-68 win over Salisbury in the first round of the CAC Tournament.

The Wolverines (18-7) jumped out to a 42-14 lead and led 50-28 at the break behind 18 of Rudy Thomas' (Milton, Del./Sussex Tech) game-high 23 points.  Wesley buried its first seven shots of the game and finished the half shooting 61 percent from the floor. 

In the second half, the Wolverines extended the lead to as many as 28 points after a three by Jacques Bowe (Millsboro, Del./Sussex Tech) made it 76-48 with just under seven minutes to play.

Thomas finished 7-of-11 from the field and hit 5-of-8 threes in the contest.  He also grabbed seven rebounds, dished out four assists and picked up six steals.

Kevin Johnson (Smyrna, Del./Smyrna) hit 8-of-14 field goals and finished the evening with 18 points. 

Thomas and Johnson were the lone Wolverines in double figures as 10 different players scored for Wesley in the win.  Chris Douglas (Landover, Md./Jericho Prep Academy) finished with seven rebounds and six assists.

The Wolverines ended the game at 53 percent from the floor and hit 9-of-23 threes (39 percent). 

Wesley owned the interior all evening, holding a 44-37 rebounding advantage and outscoring the Sea Gulls (13-12) 42-22 in the paint.

Greg Palmer and Devin Jones scored 16 apiece to lead Salisbury, but the duo hit just 10-of-37 field goals combined.  Chris McGrew added 15, but the rest of the Sea Gulls scored only a collective 17 points.

With the win, Wesley tied its Division III school record with 18 wins, tying the 2008-09 CAC Champion squad. 

With the victory, the Wolverines will head to York (Pa.) for the CAC Semifinals on Thursday, February 25.