Box Score

MADISON, N.J. – Tom Kresge (Brodheadsville, Pa./Pleasant Valley) became the second player in as many games to reach the 1000-point milestone with his 16-point performance, helping lead the Colonels to a 63-61 much-needed win over FDU-Florham. Kresge finished with 12 rebounds on the day, one away from his career high and has now scored 1002 points in a Colonel uniform during his three-plus years with the team. 

 

The Colonels survived a late 5-0 run in the final 1:02 of the game to secure the victory, improving to 11-9 overall and 7-6 in Freedom Conference play. Chris DeRojas (Kingston, Pa./Bishop O'Reilly), who put in 16 points as well, hit a jumper with just over a minute to play to give the Colonels a 63-56 advantage, but Ryan McPherson, who finished with 28 points, hit one of his five three-point baskets on the day with 53 seconds to go to bring the Devils within four. He would make the game even more interesting after making a layup with six seconds to go, but steal by Steve Kline (Bridgewater, N.J./Bridgewater-Raritan) at the buzzer sealed the win for Wilkes. 

 

FDU-Florham was a two-man wrecking crew as McPherson and Ricky Fetske combined for 43 of the team's 61 points. The Colonels countered with 17 offensive rebounds that contributed to 18 second chance points. Wilkes dominated the glass with 43 total rebounds, while FDU had just 31. 

 

The Devils led for most of the first half, including a 12-point advantage with 8:43 to go before the half when McPherson drained a three-pointer, giving FDU a 30-18 edge. A 17-4 run to end the half gave the Colonels a 35-34 lead at the break, surviving six three's by FDU in the opening stanza.  

 

The two teams exchanged buckets in the second half, with the Colonels losing the lead just once in the second half. A pair of free throws by Fetske gave the Devils a 36-35 lead 18:22 to go, but Steve Kline (Bridgewater, N.J./Bridgewater-Raritan) gave the Colonels the lead for good with a layup at the 17:50 mark.   

 

A 9-0 run with 6:31 to play gave the Colonels a nine point advantage, their largest of the game, when Kendall Hinze (Lewisberry, Pa./Red Land) hit the front end of a pair of free throws. Wilkes hit just four field goals in the final six minutes of action, but hit four free throws to help seal the victory. 

 

The Colonels will be back in action Wednesday when they take on Manhattanville in the Marts Center at 8 p.m.