Correll Akings-Wilson

The calendar says December, but it felt like a playoff game in West Lawn on Friday night. The youngest player on the floor came up big. Sophomore guard Correll Akings had 23 points and six rebounds as Wilson held off Muhlenberg 57-56 in overtime. Akings’ layup with eleven seconds left forced OT. “I saw the opening after I ripped through and I knew that I had to go off two [feet] strong,” he said. The 5’8 running back exploded for 16 points in the third and fourth quarters. Mike Miller, a 6’1 sophomore, had an open look from the left corner, but he couldn’t connect as time expired. “I thought it was in, but luckily it didn’t go in,” replied Akings with a huge smile. The (7-1, 2-0) Bulldogs started slow and trailed 15-9 after eight minutes. Madyx Gruber had seven of his twelve points in the first period. Wilson’s shots began to fall in the second quarter and it was even at 27 at halftime. The (6-3, 1-1) Muhls outscored the Bulldogs 16-11 in the third period. However, Wilson opened the fourth quarter with an 11-2 run. 6’2 junior Shermar Killens went 1-of-2 from the foul line to tie it at 50 with one minute remaining. After a block by 6’3 senior Kyle Archie, Killens gave Muhlenberg a 52-50 lead on a layup with 34 seconds left. Akings answered to send the Division 1 contest to an extra session. Tommy McFadden and Cam Zullinger scored inside for the Bulldogs, but the Muhls came right back. Alex Collado’s floater off the glass tied it at 56 with 42 seconds to go. Gruber was fouled away from the basket with 22 seconds to play. The 5’11 junior, who was sick, made one of his two free throws for a 57-56 lead. Collado, who finished with a team-high 15 points, was trapped on Muhlenberg’s final possession. The Muhls swung the ball around to Miller who got a clean look before the horn sounded. Muhlenberg’s three-game winning streak ended as they went 11-of-21 from the charity stripe. Killens provided 13 points and Archie added ten. McFadden and Zullinger had six points apiece off Wilson’s bench. Junior guard Jon Etim chipped in with eight points including five in the fourth quarter. The Bulldogs were 9-of-14 from the foul line. Akings converted five of his six free throws. “It takes a lot of time to get used to shooting again. I’m starting to get my flow back,” he noted. Wilson’s football season didn’t end until November 10th. The Bulldogs have managed to shake off the rust and win six in a row. “We are showing everybody that we’ve been working really hard at practice and it’s paying off,” said Akings.