Wilkes University Athletics

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Wilkes captured the W&J Farmers Insurance title Sunday afternoon with a 77-74 overtime win

WIZAR’S GAME-WINNING THREE-POINTER LIFTS WILKES TO W&J TOURNEY TITLE 77-74

11/17/2013 6:15:00 PM

Box Score

WIZAR'S GAME-WINNING THREE-POINTER LIFTS WILKES TO W&J TOURNEY TITLE 77-74

WASHINGTON, PA – Alec Wizar (Lebanon, PA/Annville Cleona) hit the game-winning three-pointer with one second left in overtime to lift visiting Wilkes University to a 77-74 win over host Washington and Jefferson College Sunday afternoon in the W&J Farmers Insurance Tip-Off Tournament final.

Wilkes improves to 2-0 following the season opening tourney, while W&J slips to 1-1 overall on the year.

In one of the more entertaining opening season games of the college basketball year, Wilkes used some timely shooting to capture the tourney title.

The Colonels trailed by as many as 11 late in the second half after holding the lead for most of the first stanza. A layup from Mike Resnik gave W&J a 64-53 lead with just 4:42 left in regulation. From there, Wilkes began its furious comeback.

A 15-4 run over the game's final four minutes of play sent the contest into overtime, but not without some dramatic, clutch shooting from the Colonels. Trailing by four, 68-64, with under a minute to play, Steve Stravinski (Pittston, PA/Pittston) connected on a deep three-pointer and was fouled on the shot to give Wilkes a chance to tie with the four-point play. Stravinski's free throw rang through and tied the game at 68 sending the teams into overtime.

Wilkes opened the extra frame with a five point lead thanks to three straight scores from Pat Furst (Jamison, PA/Central Bucks West), Nic Wilkins (Dushore, PA/Sullivan County) and Jim Bracket. W&J found a way to time the game in the final ten seconds to setup the dramatic finish for Wizar. After a W&J free throw, Wilkes inbounded to Wizar who took care of the rest. The sophomore guard weaved through traffic throwing up a 28-footer that hit all net with one second on the clock to capture the title for Wilkes.

It was a balanced effort offensively for Wilkes all game long as five different Colonels reach double figures. Wizar, named the tournament's MVP, led the way with 17 points and three assists, canning 5-of-8 from downtown including the game-winner. Wilkins followed with 15 points and six rebounds, while Furst, named to the All-Tournament team, added 14 points, five rebounds and four assists. Brackett contributed 13 points while Stravinski chipped in 10 points including the game-tying four-point play at the end of regulation.

Nate Bellhy led four players in double figures for W&J finishing with a game-high 18 points and 12 rebounds.

Wilkes looks to remain perfect on the season when the Colonels welcome Baptist Bible College to the Marts Center Tuesday night for their home opener. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.

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