Box Score

Wilkes had four players score in double figures on Tuesday, but could overcome a second half deficit, falling to conference foe DeSales, 75-64.

Wilkes came into the contest with a 13-9 (4-7) record, while DeSales was atop the Freedom Conference, boasting an 18-5 (11-1) mark.

DeSales came out firing from the outside and connecting, grabbing an early 10-4 lead with the help of two three-pointers. Wilkes stayed with the Bulldogs early on, never letting the deficit get about four points in the first eight minutes. With just under 12 minutes left in the period, Tom Kresge (Brodheadsville, Pa./Pleasant Valley) hit a three, tying the game at 14 a piece.

The lead exchanged hands in the ensuing minutes before DeSales hit a three, giving it a four point lead once again. Again Wilkes answered the bell, this time in the form of a Chris DeRojas (Dallas/Bishop O'Reilly) three-pointer, his second of the contest. Wilkes kept it close till the five minute mark when another three by the Bulldogs gave them the biggest lead of the game, 31-26.

Out of a timeout DeSales didn't let up, depending on the deep ball and opening up an eight point lead on another three. Wilkes added another bucket before the break, making the score 36-30 at the half.

Wilkes was led by DeRojas in the half with eight points, including two three-pointers. Anthony Gabriel (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Trinity) added six points and four rebounds, while Kresge had five points and six rebounds in the period. DeSales was carried by its three-point game, hitting on 6-of-12 threes in the half. It also had 17 points off the bench.

The second half began with DeSales running the floor well, pushing its lead to 10, but a three-pointer by Kresge kept Wilkes in striking range. The Colonels hit timely shots over the next few minutes, but couldn't put together a run to bring them within less than seven points.

With 11:47 DeSales had pushed its lead to 14 points, and seemed to be firing on all cylinders, running the floor and working the half-court game. With over 10 minutes left Wilkes found itself in the bonus, capitalizing on DeRojas free throws and finding a channel as to which it could get back into the game.

With just under eight minutes the Bulldogs knocked down another deep three, opening up a 17 points lead, their biggest of the game. The game drastically slowed down under the six minute mark, largely in part due to fouls by each team and turnovers. Wilkes hit some big buckets around the four minute mark, but DeSales repeatedly found itself at the free throw line, not allowing the Colonels back into the game.

At the two minute mark, Wilkes converted a fast break layup by Gabriel, narrowing the deficit to within nine points. On the ensuing DeSales possession, the Bulldogs hit yet another deep three, pushing the lead back to 12 and all by sealing the win for the visiting team.

Each team shot multiple free throws down the stretch, but it wasn't enough for Wilkes, falling to the Bulldogs 75-64.

The Colonels were led by Gabriel with 16 points, while Kresge and DeRojas each added a dozen, with Kresge pulling down nine rebounds. Kendall Hinze (Lewisberry, PA/Red Land) chipped in 11 points on 4-of-5 from the field. Wilkes shot just under 40 percent on the day, but committed more turnovers than the Bulldogs.

Wilkes will look to turn things around when it heads to St. David's, Pa. on Thursday, Feb. 18 to play in a previously postponed game against Eastern. That game will begin at approximately 8:00 p.m.