HUCH AND HINZE LEAD WILKES PAST LEBANON VALLEY, 82-74

12/5/2011 8:46:00 PM

Box Score

HUCH AND HINZE LEAD WILKES PAST LEBANON VALLEY, 82-74

WILKES-BARRE – Seniors Paul Huch (Tuckerton, NJ/Pinelands Regional) and Kendall Hinze (Lewisberry, PA/Red Land) combined for 37 points and 20 rebounds each recording double-doubles to lead Wilkes University to an 82-74 non-league victory over Lebanon Valley College Monday night at the Marts Center. It marked the fifth straight win for the Colonels.

With the win Wilkes moves to 6-1 overall, while Lebanon Valley drops their second straight standing 5-3 on the year.

The action was fast and furious in the first half as Wilkes built a 13-point halftime lead thanks to 16 first half points from Huch. The senior forward went 6-for-7 from the field and 2-for-2 from behind the arc in a near flawless first half offensively for the Colonels. Wilkes continued their hot shooting as of late connecting on 59.4 percent (19-32) of their first half attempts from the floor including 44.9 percent (4-9) from long range.

Wilkes kept their double-digit lead through the first eight minutes of the second frame before two straight Lebanon Valley three-pointers cut the deficit to four, 53-49 with 12:08 left in the contest. Back-to-back scores inside the paint from Huch and Hinze put the Colonels back up eight at 59-51 just two minutes later. The Flying Dutchmen would not go away that easily using a 6-0 run to bring Lebanon Valley to three, 61-58 with just under seven minutes remaining.

From there, two free throws from Jourdon Wilson (Mechanicsburg, PA/Cumberland Valley) followed by a Matt Mullins (Binghamton, NY/Chenango Valley) drive and score extended the Wilkes advantage back to seven, 67-60, with 4:59 left on the clock. Lebanon Valley made it interesting thanks to two Wilkes turnovers late cutting the lead to 74-72 with 1:14 left to play setting up the final few possessions. Wilkes spread the floor on offense and let Wilson go to work off the dribble where the rookie point guard would be fouled with :49 left. Wilson calmly sank both free throws to put Wilkes up 76-72. On their next possession, Lebanon Valley unintentionally stepped on the sideline out-of-bounds committing their costliest turnover of the night. Mullins hit two more free throws following a Flying Dutchmen foul to seal the non-league home win for Wilkes.

Huch finished 7-for-10 from the field including a 6-for-6 performance at the charity stripe. He added one block, two steals, and two assists to complete the box score. Hinze was equally as effective finishing with 15 points and 10 boards, including five on the offensive glass. Wilson contributed 13 points and three helpers, while Mullins continued to his double figure streak chipping in 11 points and four assists.

Joe Meehan led Lebanon Valley with 22 points, five rebounds, and four assists. Jordan Stewart followed with 17 points and five rebounds. The Flying Dutchmen played without their top scorer Danny Brooks (21.2 ppg) who was sidelined with a leg injury.

The Colonels will take to the road Saturday with a non-league matchup at Lycoming College in Williamsport, Pa. Tip-off is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. at Lamade Gymnasium.

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