NEWARK, Del. – The Felician University men's basketball team dominated the low post and turned in its best defensive effort in two years with its 89-51 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference men's basketball victory over host Wilmington (Del.) University on Saturday afternoon at the WU Athletics Complex.

Felician (5-11, 3-5) put an end to a six-game losing streak in emphatic fashion. The Golden Falcons shot 56.3 percent from the floor, and held Wilmington to a 29.8-percent figure, including 15 percent from three-point range. The last time a Felician opponent scored fewer points or shot for a worse percentage was when Post University converted at a .299 rate during an 86-50 loss to the Golden Falcons on Jan. 6, 2018, in Rutherford, N.J.

The 38-point victory was Felician's largest since defeating the University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras, 97-58, on Nov. 28, 2007 in Rutherford. It was the second-widest margin of victory in program history in a true road game, bested by only a 92-51 triumph at Fanshawe College on Jan. 7, 1998.

The visitors complied a 52-21 rebounding advantage and outscored the Wildcats, 52-20, in the "paint." Six-foot-8 senior forward Jared Pearson (Woodbridge, N.J.) went 9 for 9 from the field and scored 20 points with six rebounds in 20 minutes off the Golden Falcon bench. Pearson set a Felician record for most field-goal attempts without a miss. The former mark of seven was set by Antoine Obery and tied twice last season by Dee-End McRae (Newark, N.J.).

McRae, meanwhile, totaled 15 points, supporting five Golden Falcon double-figure scorers. He set a career high with 15 rebounds and added three assists for his second double-double of the campaign. Fellow sophomore forward Jay'von Jackson (Plainfield, N.J.) tallied 13 points, five rebounds and three assists.

Freshman guard Taalib Holloman (Philadelphia, Pa.) led Wilmington (5-12, 3-5) with 21 points and five steals. But containing CACC top scorer Jermaine Head (Edgewood, Md.) helped key Felician's success. Head, averaging 24.0 points in 2019-20 entering Saturday, was held to five points in 33 minutes.

After three lead changes, the contest was tied for the third time, 16-16, following a steal and dunk by Holloman with 11 minutes, 25 seconds, remaining in the first half. Felician freshman Josiah Basket (Oak Ridge, N.J.) buried a three-pointer on Felician's next possession, and the visitors never trailed again. The shot touched off a 24-7 Golden Falcon run to close the period which included 15 points from Pearson and seven by Basket. Felician led, 40-23, at halftime.

Ahead, 42-28, with just over a minute gone by in period two, the visitors took full control with an 9-0 run spanning more than three minutes. By the 9:14 mark, three free throws by Basket made the score 65-33, and the Golden Falcons produced their largest bulge, 85-42, with 3:28 remaining.

Basket and senior swingman Rachid Shimou (Piscataway, N.J.) (four rebounds, three steals) netted 12 points each. Felician freshman guard Nas Amos (Newark, N.J.) added nine points and five assists.

Felician's overall school record for margin of victory is 60 – a 99-39 home victory over Bard College on Jan. 25, 1997, during the Golden Falcons' inaugural season.

The Golden Falcons are in action again on Tuesday against CACC North rival Caldwell University at 7:30 p.m. in Caldwell, N.J.