Box Score
DOYLESTOWN – The Wilkes University men's basketball team shot a season-best 60.4 percent from the field and overcame 25 turnovers to take a 91-81 overtime win over Delaware Valley. The Colonels made 29-of-48 shots from the field, including 4-of-5 in overtime to improve to 8-4 overall and 4-1 in league play.
Tom Kresge (Brodheadsville, Pa./Pleasant Valley) and
Steve Kline (Bridgewater, N.J./Bridgewater-Raritan) both picked up double-doubles for the Colonels with Kresge putting 24 points and a game-high 12 rebounds, while Kline had 19 points to go along with 11 rebounds. Wilkes also dominated the rebounding department, pulling down 47 to the Aggies' 24 and took advantage of its inside threat, scoring 44 points in the paint, most of which came from the duo of Kline and Kresge.
Despite shooting just over 36 percent from the field, Delaware Valley took advantage of the Colonel miscues, putting in 30 points off turnovers. James Jones was a one-man wrecking crew for Delaware Valley, hitting 11-of-17 shots from the field as well as 11-of-12 from the free throw line to score a game-high 35 points. Jones' performance marks the second-straight game in which an individual has put up 30-or-more points against the Colonels.
Both teams exchanged baskets to open the half until the Colonels used a 14-4 run to lead 30-20 with 6:47 to go in the first. Wilkes would hold the lead the rest of the way, but a layup by Jones with 17 seconds to tie the game at 41.
After both teams put up 41 points in the first half, neither would get into an offensive flow, scoring a combined 11 points in the first six minutes of the second half. Kresge hit a jumper to open the second half giving Wilkes a 43-41 which was short lived as Mike Williams broke a 43-43 tie after converting a layup.
An 11-3 run by Delaware Valley gave the Aggies an 11-point lead (62-51); their largest of the game, but the Colonels quickly erased the deficit with a 13-2 run. Kresge topped off the scoring surge after knocking down a pair of free throws with 4:11 to go, tying the game at 64.
Williams, who was the only other Aggie in double-figures with 15 points, knocked down a pair of free throws with 42 seconds to play to tie the game at 70. Neither team would score in regulation to send the game to overtime.
In the extra period,
Chris Gulla (Berlin, N.J./Eastern Regional) made a layup five seconds in giving the Colonels the lead for good. They were a perfect 13-of-13 from the line that proved to be the difference as Delaware Valley made just 3-of-11 field goals in overtime.
The Colonels will return home Wednesday to host Misericordia at 8 p.m. in the Marts Center.
