Box Score

The Wilkes University men's basketball team participated in a rollercoaster of a game on Saturday afternoon against Manhattanville, and after shooting 47 free throws and coming back from a 15 point deficit, defeated the Valiants in overtime, 81-78.

The Colonels came into the contest with a 12-8 mark, including 3-6 in conference play. The Valiants were an even 10-10 coming into the game, and were 4-5 in Freedom Conference play. Each team was looking to string together a few wins before the season came to an end in an effort to make the conference tournament.

The game began with the teams exchanging baskets, and six minutes into the contest Manhattanville held an 11-7 lead. The Valiants only improved upon that score in the next three minutes, and after a deep three by Jeff Ventura had established an eight point lead, forcing a Colonel timeout.

The Valiants hit another three, but Paul Huch (Tuckerton, NJ/Pinelands Regional) answered with an and-one basket of his own, bringing the deficit to ten with nine minutes left to play. Each team found itself committing many fouls, and each squad went to the free throw line multiple times. Manhattanville kept hitting from outside as the period went on, and after another three-pointer the Vailants had a 16 point lead with seven minutes to go.

After two Tom Kresge (Brodheadsville, Pa./Pleasant Valley) free throws and a jumper by freshman Tyler Breznitski, the Colonels had chipped at the Valiant lead, making the score 33-22 with 5:11 left in the period and forcing a Manhattanville timeout. With time winding down in the half Manhattanville converted on two fast break baskets to push the lead back to 14, breaking a run by the Colonels. The teams exchanged buckets down the stretch, but an and-one score by Breznitski right before the break gave Manhattanville a 41-29 lead going into the locker room.

Wilkes was led by Kresge who hit 6-of-7 free throws and scored eight points in the period. Huch added six points, while Anthony Gabriel (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Trinity) had seven points and seven rebounds for the Colonels. Wilkes shot just 27 percent from the field in the half, while Manhattanville hit on over 51 percent of its shots. The Valiants also had 26 bench points compared to eight by Wilkes.

The second half began with the Colonels working away at the deficit, and after an and-one bucket by Gabriel, Wilkes had worked its way back into the contest, trailing 45-38 with 16 minutes left to play.

After a timeout the Valiants hit back-to-back three pointers and got an easy lay-up to extend its lead back to 15 with 14 minutes left. At the 12:30 mark Manhattanville committed its seventh foul, putting the Colonels in the bonus early in the half. Kresge knocked down both shots to pull Wilkes back within double digits, and soon after the Colonels converted on a fast break, making the score 53-46 with 11:57 left.

A few minutes later Gabriel connected on a short jumper, pulling Wilkes to within three points. Manhattanville then answered with a three, ending a 12-0 Colonel run. With 7:30 left Kresge hit a deep three, tying the game at 57 for the first time since the 17:44 mark in the first period.

Each team had players in foul trouble down the stretch, as both squads were in the double bonus with over five minutes left. The Colonels finally took the lead after a Gabriel basket, and in the next possession Kresge hit a free throw, giving Wilkes a 64-62 lead with 3:45 left in the game.

The Valiants took back the lead on a free throw with 1:30 left, and on the ensuing possession committed a foul, putting Chris Gulla (Berlin, N.J./Eastern Regional) on the line with a minute left. Gulla hit his first, tying the game, but missed his second, only to have freshman Cliff Richardson (Bernville, PA/Tulpehocken) get the rebound and head to the line after being fouled. Richardson hit both shots, giving Wilkes a two point lead with 50 second left.

Wilkes fouled on the defensive end of the floor, and Manhattanville converted the two free throws tying up the game. In the ensuing possession Kresge found Breznitski at the top of the key for a three that Breznitski drained, but the Valiants connected on an and-one bucket with eight second left, tying the game at 72. Wilkes turned the ball over on its next possession, and Manhattanville missed an open shot, ending regulation with the score 72-72.

This was the first game of the season that Wilkes had to participate in overtime play, and up to this point had been the most exciting game the Colonels had played in this season.

The overtime period didn't start off well for the Colonels, turning the ball over twice and giving up two quick baskets. They soon settled down, and a put back bucket by Hinze and free throw by Richardson got Wilkes back to within one.

It was a one point game with 48 seconds left when the Valiants missed two free throws, giving Wilkes an opportunity to take the lead, which it did on a floater by Chris DeRojas (Dallas/Bishop O'Reilly), his first basket of the contest. Manhattanville had the ball with 30 seconds left, only to turn it over on a traveling violation due to heavy pressure by Wilkes. The Valiants fouled DeRojas, who hit both free throws, giving Wilkes an 81-78 lead with 12 seconds left. Manhattanville's desperation shot didn't fall, and the Colonels came away with the victory, 81-78.

Wilkes was led by Gabriel who had 26 points and 12 rebounds, a career high for points. He also hit on 14-of-15 free throws, and was a main cause for the Valiant travel late in overtime. Kresge added 22 points and 11 rebounds, as he hit on 13-of-15 free throws. Breznitski chipped in nine points, but hit the three that helped the Colonels make it to overtime.

Wilkes shot only 34 percent from the floor, but made a living at the free throw line, making 37-of-47 shots from the charity stripe. They also out-rebounded the Valiants 48 to 40.

The Colonels will look to continue their playoff push when they travel to St. David's, Pa. on Wednesday, Feb. 10 to take on Eastern. That game will begin at approximately 8:00 p.m.