WASHINGTON - Time could not tick fast enough for the Gallaudet University men's basketball team here Saturday afternoon as the Bison watched their lead evaporate in the waning minutes of its non-conference game with Wilson College. The visiting Phoenix rose up and scored the game's final 11 points to stun a crowd of 207 in the Field House with a 63-59 victory.

Gallaudet (1-8) scored its final field goal of the game at the 2:34 mark in the second half when sophomore guard Rory Lewis (Frederick, Md.) made a jump shot to give the Bison a 59-52 lead. On three consecutive possessions the Bison turned the ball over to the Phoenix, which turned into seven points as Wilson led 62-59 with 24 seconds left in regulation. GU had one final shot to tie the game but freshman guard Malosi Viena (Waipahu, Hawaii) heaved a 3-point shot that missed the mark with 10 ticks left on the clock. Wilson made one final free throw and the clock ran out to end the game.

Viena finished with 14 points, six rebounds, five assists, three blocks and one steal in the loss. Junior guard Corey Smith (Miami, Fla.) led the Bison with 18 points, three assists and three steals. Lewis accumulated nine points, five rebounds, five assists and one steal. Freshman forward Brandon Chung (Kahului, Hawaii) was a force down in the paint with four blocks as he tallied eight points and grabbed five boards. 

Wilson (5-4) was led by junior guard Warrick Godwin Jr., who scored a game-high 23 points as he made 6 of 14 shots from 3-point range. Senior guard Adrian Thomas added a double-double with 16 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks. Fellow junior guard Jordan Miles recorded a game-high five steals to go with six points, seven rebounds and four assists.

The Phoenix took advantage of second-chance opportunities as they grabbed 26 of their 50 team rebounds on the offensive end of the court, which led to 28 points. Wilson scored 18 points off Gallaudet turnovers (16) and tallied 26 points in the paint.

Wilson led by six points, 13-7, early in the contest before Gallaudet went on its own run late in the opening half. The Bison used an 8-0 run to break open a 23-22 lead to take their largest lead of the game (nine points) as they led 31-22. The Phoenix scored seven of the next nine points as Gallaudet led 33-29 at the half.

BISON TRACKS

• Freshman guard Enow Otto Jr. (Waldorf, Md.) came off the bench to score six points and rip down five rebounds
• Gallaudet recorded a season-high 16 assists and nine blocks
• The game featured nine lead changes and four ties
• Gallaudet led for over 23 minutes
• This was the third time this season Gallaudet had shot over 40 percent from the field
• GU went 1-3 during the month of December

UP NEXT
Gallaudet is off until the New Year. The Bison will next suit up on Saturday, Jan. 8, 2022, at 4 p.m. and play host to Penn State Harrisburg in a United East Conference game.