box score
The Colonel basketball team is finding its rhythm as they won their fifth-straight after an 18-point victory over Baptist Bible. Four players scored in double figures with
Tom Kresge (Brodheadsville, Pa./Pleasant Valley) leading the way with 23 points in the Colonels 90-72 victory.
Wilkes made the most of its opportunities, hitting 28-of-34 free throws while taking advantage of its inside presence, scoring 30 points in the paint. The Colonels also dominated the glass, out-rebounding the Defenders 38-26 which led to 19 second chance points for Wilkes.
The two teams went back and forth in the first half with the lead changing hands on four different occasions. The Colonels went on a 10-4 run midway through the first half to lead 27-21 with 9:37 to go before the break but the Defenders closed the gap to two with 6:59 to go after a three-pointer by Seth Bernard, who finished with 14 points. They would come no closer the rest of the half.
The Colonels would use another 9-2 run over the next four minutes, giving Wilkes a 42-32 advantage with 3:33 to go before the half. It would eventually lead 45-38 at the break.
Both teams scorched the nets in the first half, shooting better than 60 percent midway through the first. The Colonels would end the half at 50 percent, while Baptist Bible went to the locker room after shooting 48.5 percent from the field.
Baptist Bible opened the second half with a three-pointer by Bernard to pull the Defenders within four and would eventually make it 49-48 after a three by Nathan Greve, who finished with a team-high 23. It would be the last field goal Baptist Bible would make over the next four minutes in which Wilkes took advantage, using a 10-0 run to take control of the game. The Colonels would lead by double-digits the rest of the way.
Wilkes shot 50 percent for the game and 40 percent from beyond the three-point line, while head coach Jerry Rickrode took advantage of his depth, getting 26 points off the bench. Twelve different players saw action while 10 scored at least one point.
The Colonels will be back in action on Saturday as they hit the road to take on Manhattanville in Freedom Conference action at 3 p.m.
