Steve Finkernagel

WILKES MEN’S BASKETBALL DROPS 68-65 DECISION TO DICKINSON IN DAYS INN TIP-OFF TOURNAMENT OPENER

11/18/2011 10:20:00 PM

Box Score

WILKES MEN'S BASKETBALL DROPS 68-65 DECISION TO DICKINSON IN DAYS INN TIP-OFF TOURNAMENT OPENER

CARLISLE, PA – Despite a season-high 26 points and four rebounds from Matt Mullins (Binghamton, NY/Chenango Valley), Wilkes University dropped a 68-65 decision to host Dickinson College in the opening round of the Days Inn Tip-Off Tournament Friday night in Kline Arena.

Wilkes falls to 1-1 on the young season while Dickinson evens their mark at 1-1 following the home win.

The game swung back and forth in the first half as Dickinson eventually opened up a 10-point lead at 20-10 following an Adam Honig three pointer. Wilkes cut into the lead by the break as Mullins hit a mid-range jump shot then converted an old fashioned three-point play as the Colonels trailed by seven at the break, 37-30.

Mullins continued where he left off to start the second frame hitting back-to-back three-pointers to bring Wilkes to within one, 37-36 with 18:10 left in the contest. Wilkes finally made the comeback complete with a deep Paul Huch (Tuckerton, NJ/Pinelands Regional) trey tying the game at 45-45 midway through the stanza. After a defense stop by Wilkes, freshman Jourdon Wilson (Mechanicsburg, PA/Cumberland Valley) cashed in a jumper to give the Colonels a 47-45 lead, the first of the contest since early in the first half, with 12:42 left.

From there, Wilkes continued their offensive onslaught using a quick 6-0 surge to extend the lead to six at 53-47 with 9:43 on the clock. Dickinson answered back with a 6-0 run of their own to tie the game for the seventh time after a three-point play. After Wilkes' Cameron Hinkel (Millerstown, PA/Greenwood) scored on a driving layup to give the Colonels a 62-61 lead, Dickinson responded with a score in the paint to setup the final sequence as the Red Devils led 63-62 with under 1:00 left in regulation.

Dickinson would miss two free throws on their next possession, but two costly turnovers by Mullins with under :30 to play turned into four Red Devils points as Dickinson escaped with the non-league victory.

Mullins went 5-for-12 from the floor and 14-of-16 from the charity stripe on way to his season-best performance. Huch followed with 10 points and two assists, but was straddled with foul trouble all night eventually fouling out with 4:58 left in the contest. Pat Furst (Jamison, PA/Central Bucks West) had a solid outing with seven points and a team-high nine rebounds. Tyler Breznitsky (Freeland, PA/MMI Prep) came off the bench to hit two treys finishing with six points. Kendall Hinze (Lewisberry, PA/Red Land), who was slowed by foul trouble throughout scored just four points on 1-for-4 shooting.

Gerry Wixted led the Red Devils with 21 points and five rebounds. Tucker Landy followed with 13 points and five boards as Dickinson shot a blistering 52.5 percent (21-40) from the field throughout. The Red Devils also took advantage from their trips to the free throw line cashing in 24 times from the stripe.

As a team, Wilkes shot just 35.8 percent (19-53) from the field and 35.7 percent (5-14) from behind the arc. The Colonels held a slight 28-27 advantage on the boards, but couldn't overcome the cold shooting night from the floor.

Wilkes will play in the consolation game tomorrow against Penn State Harrisburg at 1:30 p.m.

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