The Wildcats (3-0) – which are receiving votes in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Top 25 poll - open the season with three straight wins for the third time in the last four seasons. This is the second time under Jay Smith which they've defeated a ranked opponent on the road.
Joshua Hamilton (SR/New Iberia, Louisiana) led all players with 21 points. He shot 7-for-14. Three of the Wildcats' double digit scorers came off the bench. Stephen Taylor (JR/Houston, Texas) scored 16 points and was 4-for-4 from 3-point territory. It was his highest point total since the end of the 2016-17 season. Martavious Washington (SR/Shreveport, Louisiana) scored 11. Lord Akah (SR/Houston, Texas) scored in double figures for the second consecutive game with 10 and led the team in rebounds with eight. The Wildcats' reserves outscored Texas Wesleyan's bench 37-28.Though Wiley College was out-shot 53.6 to 52.5 – it won the turnover battle by forcing Texas Wesleyan into 20 – which it converted into 24 points. The Wildcats were out-rebounded but outscored the Rams 10-5 in second chance points.
BOX SCORE
The lead changed hands five times in the first half and the score was tied twice. Traylin Prejean (SR/Lafayette, Louisiana) – who finished the game with 14 points - hit a 3-pointer with 4:37 left in the first half to give the Wildcats the lead for good as they held a 37-34 halftime advantage.
Taylor hit a three-pointer with 16:02 left in the game to give the Wildcats a double-digit lead. Wiley College would lead by as many as 16 in the second half.
"We defended at a high level, especially early in the second half," Smith said. "We did a much better job of executing our offense."
The Wildcats will return home on Monday to face Tougaloo College at 7 p.m. The Bulldogs beat Freed-Hardeman on Thursday to improve to 3-0.
WILEY COLLEGE WILDCATS ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS
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