Box Score

Update: With the Wilkes victory and the King's loss at Misericordia on Tuesday night, the Colonels clinched a spot in the Freedom Conference tournament. Seeds will be determined after Saturday's games.

CENTER VALLEY – Chris DeRojas (Dallas/Bishop O'Reilly) hit crucial free throws down the stretch and Paul Huch (Tuckerton, NJ/Pinelands Regional) had 18 points and 10 rebounds to lead Wilkes over DeSales Tuesday night at Center Valley, 72-64.

Early on Wilkes was carried by Huch who scored seven points on three consecutive possessions to give the Colonels an early 7-5 edge. After a few more buckets by Wilkes and solid defense on the other end of the floor, the Colonels had built up a 15-5 advantage eight minutes into the game.

DeSales answered soon after in the form of a 10-0 run of their own, tying the game at 15 with nine minutes left in the half. The rest of the half was a defensive battle as well as an offensive struggle for Wilkes who scored just 10 points in the final nine minutes. Meanwhile, two late three-pointers by the Bulldogs extended their lead to seven, as DeSales went into the break with a 32-25 advantage.

Wilkes was carried by Huch in the half, as the junior had 11 points to lead all scorers, as well as four rebounds. Kendall Hinze (Lewisberry, PA/Red Land) had six points of his own as Wilkes shot 40 percent from the field, but also committed 13 turnovers. DeSales shot 43 percent from the field and hit six three-pointers in the half, but also turned the ball over repeatedly, committing 12 turnovers in the period. Twenty of the Bulldogs' 32 points came off of Colonel turnovers.

The second half began with three consecutive three-pointers by Matt Mullins (Binghamton, NY/Chenango Valley) to eat away at the Colonel deficit, making the score 36-34 in favor of the Bulldogs just a minute and a half into the period. The two teams then exchanged baskets, with a three-pointer by DeRojas tying the game at 39.

The game experienced several ties during the middle portion of the second half, as the two teams continued to exchange field goals. Wilkes had a 65-64 advantage when DeRojas drove the lane and floated in a jumper for a three-point lead with 1:50 left to play. After holding DeSales to nothing on the other end of the floor, Huch was fouled and went to the line for bonus shots, sinking one-of-two.

After turnovers by both teams, Wilkes held a four point advantage with 24.4 seconds left. DeSales then fouled, sending DeRojas to the line for bonus shots, of which he sank both. The Bulldogs couldn't make late three-point attempts to come back, giving the Colonels a 72-64 victory.

Wilkes was led by Huch with 18 points and 10 rebounds, while DeRojas chipped in 15 points, 13 of which came in the second half. Kendall Hinze (Lewisberry, PA/Red Land) had 14 points and eight rebounds, while Mullins added 13 points including three three-pointers to start off the second half. Wilkes held the Bulldogs to just 37 percent from the field, while shooting 46 percent itself.

Wilkes will continue its quest for a Freedom Conference Championship when it faces off against cross-town rival King's on Saturday, Feb. 19 at King's College. That game will begin at 3:00 p.m.