Box Score

WILKES-BARRE – Kendall Hinze (Lewisberry, PA/Red Land) and Paul Huch (Tuckerton, NJ/Pinelands Regional) each recorded double-doubles but it wasn't enough as the Colonels fell to Lycoming on Saturday afternoon, 72-71. Wilkes had a chance to take the victory at the buzzer, but couldn't connect, falling to 3-5 on the season.

Wilkes started off the game on the right foot, playing sold zone defense that the Warriors couldn't figure out. Meanwhile, on the offensive side of the ball, Matt Mullins (Binghamton, NY/Chenango Valley) and Chris DeRojas (Dallas/Bishop O'Reilly) each were scoring early to give Wilkes a 14-2 lead with 11:57 left in the half.

Lycoming didn't roll over through, and for the next seven minutes clawed itself back into the game with help from several Wilkes turnovers. With 5:36 left in the period, the two teams were locked at 18 points apiece. The two teams exchanged baskets the rest of the way out, but back-to-back three-pointers by the Warriors helped give them a 32-28 advantage at the break.

Wilkes was led by Hinze in the half, scoring 10 points and pulling down five rebounds. DeRojas added eight of his own while passing out three assists. Each team struggled from the floor, as the Colonels only shot 27.6 percent in the half, but hit on 12-of-16 free throws to keep them alive.

Early in the second period it looked like Lycoming would keep rolling as they did before the break, as just three minutes into the half the Warriors held a 10 point lead after two three-pointers and a layup. After a timeout Wilkes came out firing, halting the Warrior onslaught with help from back-to-back layups by Cliff Richardson (Bernville, PA/Tulpehocken) and an and-one basket from Huch. After a DeRojas jumper, Wilkes had retaken the lead 50-49 with 11:00 left to play.

For the rest of the game, the largest lead any team would take was three points. Huch was a large part of the reason Wilkes was able to stay in the game offensively, hitting two three-pointers that helped breathe life into the Colonel offense. After Huch committed his fifth foul, Mullins connected on two key free throws and a layup with 0:24 seconds left to bring the game to within one.

The Colonels then fouled, sending Warrior Jerald Williams to the line for single bonus attempts. Williams missed the front end and DeRojas snagged the rebound, giving Wilkes a chance with 0:09 seconds left. After a timeout, DeRojas tried a layup with 0:04 seconds which careened off the rim into the hands of Hinze, who was unable to follow up. The ball trickled out of bounds in favor of the Colonels. With 1.1 seconds left, DeRojas hoisted a fade-away jumper from the right wing that missed its mark, giving Lycoming the 72-71 victory.

Wilkes was led by Hinze who finished with 19 points and 10 rebounds, while Huch also collected a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds including six-of-six from the free throw line and two-of-two from the three-point arc. Mullins added 15 points while DeRojas finished with 13 points and eight assists.

The Colonels now have a long break before their next contest, which will be in the Wilkes-Barre Challenge in 2011. They will first play Albany Pharmacy on Sunday, Jan. 2 at 8:00 p.m.