box score

SELINSGROVE – After taking a 40-34 halftime lead, Wilkes University managed just 17 second half points and turned the ball over 27 times which would eventually lead to a 66-57 setback to Elizabethtown in the first game of the Susquehanna Tournament.

The Colonels were red-hot from the field in the opening period, hitting 57.1 percent (16-28), but made just eight second half field goals, shooting under 30 percent. Senior Tom Kresge (Brodheadsville, Pa./Pleasant Valley) was the bulk of the offense for Wilkes as he scored 20 points on 9-of-16 shooting while pulling down 11 rebounds for his first double-double of the season. As a team, the Colonels out-rebounded Elizabethtown 40-36.

Kyle McConnell opened the game with a three-pointer for Elizabethtown, but it would be the only lead they would have the entire first half. Anthony Gabriel (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Trinity) hit a jumper with 18:49 to go in the half to give the Colonels a 4-3 lead.

Both teams would exchange buckets until the Colonels went on a 9-0 run midway through the first to give them a 24-13 advantage after Kendall Hinze (Lewisberry, PA/Red Land) converted a layup. Joe Flanagan drained a three-pointer to pull the Blue Jays within eight, but the Colonels would keep at least a seven point lead until Chris DeRojas (Dallas/Bishop O'Reilly) made a three-pointer with 7:25 to go in the first to give Wilkes a double-digit lead once again. After DeRojas' three-pointer, the Colonels would not score again until Gabriel made a pair of free throws three minutes later.

Wilkes' scoring drought continued in the start of the second half as it scored just two points in the first five minutes. The Blue Jays took advantage, going on a 7-0 run to take a 43-40 advantage with 17:36 to go for just their second lead of the game.

Kresge gave Wilkes the lead again with 13:49 to go when he drained his only three-pointer of the game, which put the Colonels on top 47-44. They would hold on to the lead until Bryan Harrity, who scored six points on the night, gave Elizabethtown the lead for good after hitting a jumper with 7:53 to go.

The Colonels scored just two points over the final 1:49 to go, a layup by Kresge, but Elizabethtown would go on to score four more unanswered points for the win.