MIDDLETOWN, Conn. – Playing at home for the first time this season, the Wesleyan men's basketball team got 23 combined points from Zach Wolinski '28 and Oscar Edelman '28 in the second half as the Cardinals held off Worcester State for an 83-75 win on Thursday night from Silloway Gym. Wesleyan improves to 4-2 on the season while the Lancers drop to 1-6.
 
The visitors came out swinging, hitting a three-pointer on the first possession of the game which ignited a 10-4 Lancer run from the opening tip. Answering back was Sam Pohlman '26 who attacked the paint early in the shot clock and in transition, scoring or assisting on nine consecutive points for the Cardinals. Edelman then hit a three and Wolinski canned a triple on the fast break to complete a 17-0 Wesleyan run, spotting the Cardinals with a 21-21-10 lead.
 
Wesleyan's lead grew to as many as 16 points in the first half, with Edelman again hitting from deep to make it 32-16 with 7:07 left before halftime. The lead remained in double figures through the majority of the first half but Worcester State changed gears and started pushing the pace and cut into the lead to make it 41-35 Cardinals at halftime.
 
The Lancers continued to attack at the start of the second half, going on a 7-0 run to make it just a one-point game at 46-45. In need of a spark, it was Edelman who came through for the Cardinals, as the sharp shooting big man made three consecutive shots from long range in the span of 1:10 minutes, turning a three-point lead into a 12-point advantage in a blur.
 
Worcester State withstood the Edelman barrage and found success on offense, cutting the deficit to 60-55 with 10:04 left. The Cardinal lead remained at five points until a crucial 8-0 run saw Wesleyan separate as the game wound down the stretch. Fritz Hauser '26 started the eight-point swing with a three-point play before Wolinski grabbed a defensive rebound and drove the length of the floor for a layup, followed by a Wolinski three-pointer that made it 73-60 with 5:30 left.
 
That late run was enough for the Cardinals to finish off the game comfortably down the stretch as Wolinski scored five points in the final minute to help secure the 83-75 win.
 
Edelman matched his career-high, scoring 19 points for the second straight game. He scored 13 of his 19 points in the second half, while he went 5-of-12 from deep to go along with six rebounds and two steals. Wolinski added 18 points, six rebounds, five assists, and two steals. Pohlman totaled 14 points (6-11 FG), six assists, and two steals while Hauser tallied 10 points, six rebounds, four assists, and two blocks.
 
Wesleyan finished with a 24:8 assist-to-turnover ratio while the Cardinals outscored Worcester State 40-28 in points in the paint.
 
The Cardinals have a quick turnaround to prepare for a big Saturday evening showdown with Williams as the two sides will tip at 4:30 pm from Silloway Gym in a non-league Little Three showdown.