Box Score

Ryan McPherson scored a game-high 33 points, hitting 8-of-12 shots including five three-pointers, to lead FDU-Florham to an 86-80 win over Wilkes University. The setback is the first Freedom Conference loss for the Colonels this season. 

 

 McPherson's 33-point output marks the most by an individual against Wilkes this season. As a team, the Devils shot 51.9 percent and were red-hot from beyond the three-point line, hitting 9-of-13 for 69.2 percent. 

 

Steve Kline (Bridgewater, N.J./Bridgewater-Raritan) answered with a career-day of his own, putting in 27 points with seven rebounds, three blocks and three steals. Wilkes was not as fortunate from downtown, hitting just 3-of-16 shots from beyond the arc for 18.8 percent. 

 

FDU-Florham made the most of its opportunities from the free-throw line, draining 23-of-26 shots while the Colonels struggled, hitting 59.1 percent. 

 

The Devils led for the majority of the game and at one point held a 39-26 lead thanks to a 19-7 run with 3:42 to go in the first. Wilkes would close it to single digits at the half as the Devils went into the locker room with a 46-37 advantage at the break. 

 

The two teams went back and fourth through most of the second half until Wilkes put together a 9-3 run with 9:52 to go to take its first lead of the game. A layup by Tom Kresge (Brodheadsville, Pa./Pleasant Valley), who just missed his second-straight double-double with 18 points and seven rebounds, made a layup to give the Colonels a 69-67 edge. 

 

Kline gave the Colonels a four-point lead – its largest of the game, when he made a layup with 7:21 to go. Wilkes would only score two points over the next three-plus minutes, but it managed to keep the lead until Ricky Fetske gave the Devils the lead for good after he made a layup and the foul shot with 1:30 to go. 

 

FDU closed out the game with an 8-0 run and held the Colonels scoreless over the last 1:44 of the game. The loss dropped Wilkes to 7-4 overall and 3-1 in Freedom Conference play. The Colonels will hit the road Monday to take on Delaware Valley in Doylestown at 8 p.m.