Goldey-Beacom unbelievably turned a nine-point deficit with just under five minutes remaining into its eighth consecutive win, rallying for a stunning 77-73 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference triumph before a raucous crowd at the Jones Center in Wilmington, DE.

A 40-minute game became an eight-minute contest with things knotted at 53.  That is when the Wildcats exploded on a 15-6 run in just over three minutes for a 68-59 margin with 4:52 left.  Jaiden Guy scored five points in that span with Justin Perez adding four.

It was a 69-64 margin with just over three minutes to play when the Lightning really started cooking.  Senior Justin Allen (Boca Raton, FL) continued to be a major factor on offense by canning a huge 3-pointer with 3:03 to go, making it a 69-67 deficit.

The teams traded baskets before a Wilmington turnover put the ball back in Goldey-Beacom's hands in a two-point game.  Allen missed a layup, but junior Emarquis Jones (Brooklyn, NY) put home the rebound as he was fouled with 1:50 left.  He completed the old-fashioned three-point play for a 72-71 Lightning cushion.

Akeem Taylor missed a layup for Wilmington and GBC now had a chance for a two-possession game.  The home side bled the shot clock before sophomore Brian Blanchet (North Babylon, NY) gave the partisan crowd another reason to go bananas, canning a 3-pointer with 68 seconds to go for a 75-71 lead.

Guy's layup with 54 seconds to go brought Wilmington within 75-73 and a turnover gave the visitors the ball back.  Taylor was called upon looking to draw things even, but he missed a jumper and sophomore Anthony Akande (Newark, NJ) grabbed the rebound before being fouled with 3.5 seconds left.

Akande drilled the first, Wilmington burned its final timeout and he hit the second for the final.

Jones had 18 points and a season-best 15 rebounds for his second double-double of the campaign, sophomore Tre Powell (Mount Laurel, NJ) scored 14 points, Allen netted 11 with junior Julian Williams (Fayetteville, NC) adding 10 for the Lightning.

Guy poured in 20 points on 8-of-15 shooting, Denim Perkins netted 14 points, Perez scored 12 with Taylor adding 10 for the Wildcats (8-14, 4-10 CACC).

Goldey-Beacom (16-6, 10-4) now owns a two-game lead over Post (8-6) and Jefferson (8-6) for second place in the conference.  Felician (13-1) defeated Post to clinch a CACC Tournament berth and still has a three-game margin for first.

Goldey-Beacom this Saturday visits Felician, which received votes in the latest National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) poll.  Game time is at 3:30 pm, which follows the women's 1:00 pm contest.