MIDDLETOWN, Conn. – Behind 30 points from Sam Peek '22 and a blistering first half that saw the Wesleyan men's basketball team lead by 19 at halftime, the Cardinals proved too much for Colby in a 87-70 Friday night victory from Silloway Gymnasium. With the victory, Wesleyan (20-3, 8-1 NESCAC) has secured the top seed in the upcoming NESCAC Tournament for the first time in program history while the Mules (11-12, 3-7 NESCAC) completed their NESCAC regular season slate.
 
On a night Wesleyan honored its six-member senior class for Senior Night, it was Peek who shined as the senior guard put up 30 points on a scintillating 14-of-19 shooting to go along with four assists and three rebounds in 30 minutes. Peek's second career 30-point game came in just 35 minutes while his career-high 37 point effort at Amherst earlier this season came in a triple OT win where Peek played 50 minutes to achieve the total. For the season, Peek has scored double figures in all but one of his 20 games played while he is currently tied for second in the NESCAC in scoring at 18.6 points per game.
 
With the win, the Cardinals achieve something they have never done previously, securing the No. 1 seed for the NESCAC Tournament as the postseason runs through Silloway Gymnasium this season. Wesleyan also secured their 20^th win of the season, which marks just the third time in the 119-year history of Wesleyan men's basketball that the Cardinals have reached 20 wins in a single-season. Incredibly, all three have come within the last 10 seasons including two within the last four – all of which coming with Joe Reilly at the helm of the program.
 
Needing just one win in their final two regular season games to secure the top seed, Wesleyan wasted no time as the Cardinals rattled off 15 unanswered points early in the first half with Peek either scoring or assisting on 11 of the 15 points in the scoring run.
 
The Cardinal lead grew to 18 points a few minutes later as Nicky Johnson '25 converted a three-point play and later hit a three-pointer that made it 29-14 Cardinals at the midway point of the first half.
 
Wesleyan's stifling defense continued to play a deciding role as Colby continued to struggle from the floor while the Cardinals took full advantage on the other end, building a 41-15 lead with just under six minutes left in the first half as Johnson hit against from distance in transition. After Colby took a 6-4 lead 1:34 into play, Wesleyan rattled off a 37-9 run (+28) to take a commanding lead into halftime 49-30.
 
Colby was put to the test in the early going but credit the Mules for not giving up as a 25-point Wesleyan led quickly became 16 as the Cardinals led 63-47 despite a 11-2 Colby run.
 
The Mule bench came alive midway through the second half as what was once a near-30 point Wesleyan led suddenly became just a 11-point deficit for the Mules as Cooper Wirkala took a great feed from Jonah Obi to make it 67-56 Wesleyan with 9:51 remaining.
 
After continuing to hang around, the Cardinals had a late push as they went on a 12-3 run in the later stages as Peek again loomed large, scoring or assisting on eight straight Wesleyan points in the mini run that helped secure the win for the home side.
 
Just one game removed from dominating Williams with a +34 rebounding margin on Monday night, the Cardinals again controlled the boards with a 39-27 (+12) edge in rebounding against the Mules. The Cardinals also relied heavily on transition offense, dominating in fast break points 28-4 over Colby.
 
Jordan James '22 had his third straight impressive offensive output as he totaled 18 points (8-11 FG), with five rebounds, two assists and two blocks in 22 minutes. Over his last three games, James is averaging 21 points per game (compared to his 11 PPG season average).
 
Johnson was outstanding as the dynamic guard tallied 17 points (7-11 FG, 2-5 3FG), six rebounds, five assists and four steals in 33 minutes as he continues his double-digit scoring streak which now stands at six straight games. Johnson's four steals ties a season and career-high.
 
Other steady contributors included Preston Maccoux '23 (eight points, seven rebounds, five assists, no turnovers) and Gabe Ravetz '23 who finished with a career-high six assists.
 
Colby had one player in double figures as Kyle Butler finished with 15 points on 5-of-8 shooting from three-point range. Jack Lawson had nine points while Matt Hanna and Wirkala each scored eight.
 
Wesleyan looks to finish the regular season strong on Sunday at 2 PM as the Cardinals welcome Bowdoin to Silloway Gymnasium.