WILKES MEN'S BASKETBALL DROPS 76-61 DECISION AT MISERICORDIA

2/1/2012 9:36:00 PM

Box Score

WILKES MEN'S BASKETBALL DROPS 76-61 DECISION AT MISERICORDIA

DALLAS, PA – Steve Artzerounian led three Cougars in double figures with a game-high 21 points as host Misericordia University handed Wilkes its third straight conference defeat in a 76-61 victory Wednesday night at the Anderson Center.

Wilkes falls to 13-6 overall and 6-3 in league play following the loss. Misericordia improves to 14-6 overall and 6-3 in Freedom play. Both teams are tied for the second spot in the conference standings one game behind Eastern who posted a home win over King's.

Wilkes jumped out to an early 10-7 lead five minutes into the contest when Matt Mullins (Binghamton, NY/Chenango Valley) connected from long range. Two possessions later Brendan Sheldon (Milford, PA/Delaware Valley) pushed the Colonel lead to 16-12 with 12:45 remaining when the sophomore forward made good on an old-fashioned three-point play. The Wilkes offense continued to roll as Jourdon Wilson (Mechanicsburg, PA/Cumberland Valley) drove the length of the floor for an easy layup keeping the Colonels on top 20-16 with 10:11 remaining in the half.

Misericordia would respond with two three-pointers and a jumper to take its first lead of the contest, 24-22 with 8:33 on the clock. The Cougar lead grew to seven, the largest of the half, after Jeff Slanovec drilled a trey with 6:05 left. Following a Wilkes timeout, Todd Eagles (Downingtown, PA/Downingtown East) stopped the Cougar momentum with a rebound and put-back to cut the deficit to 34-29 with 5:14 left in the frame. Misericordia finished the stanza with two three pointers and another transition score to take a 43-36 lead to the break. Wilkes played most of the first frame without starting forwards Kendall Hinze (Lewisberry, PA/Red Land) and Paul Huch (Tuckerton, NJ/Pinelands Regional) as Hinze was saddled with two fouls early in the half and Huch went to the bench after suffering a minor injury.

Misericordia added to its lead to begin the second frame using a 9-4 run to start the half as the Cougars led 52-40 with 15:11 on the clock. Tyler Breznitsky (Freeland, PA/MMI Prep) kept the Colonels within striking distance at 61-53 hitting a jumper at the foul line at the 7:47 mark. An inside score from Hinze brought Wilkes to within six, 61-55 on the Colonels next possession leading to a Misericordia timeout.

A 7-0 run put the Cougars back up double digits, 68-57, with 3:20 remaining in the contest. Two costly turnovers coupled with six straight Misericordia free throws gave the Cougars the important league victory as Wilkes was unable to cut the deficit under 10 over the final two minutes.

Mullins led the way for Wilkes finishing with 17 points on 6-for-18 shooting but struggled from behind the arc shooting just 3-for-12 from long range in the contest. Hinze joined Mullins in double figures with 15 points on an efficient 7-for-10 shooting. Wilkes went cold shooting from the floor in the second frame finishing at 37.9 percent (25-66).

Ethan Eichhorst added 18 points for Misericordia, while Matt Greene chipped in 16 points in the win.

Wilkes returns to the court Saturday when the Colonels host Manhattanville College at 3:00 p.m. in the Marts Center.

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