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Steve Finkernagel

Wilkes will look to go 2-0 tomorrow when the Colonels face Susquehanna at the Monarch Classic

WILKES MEN’S BASKETBALL HOLDS ON LATE POSTING 67-63 WIN OVER BERKELEY IN MONARCH CLASSIC

12/14/2013 6:29:00 PM

Box Score

WILKES MEN'S BASKETBALL HOLDS ON LATE POSTING 67-63 WIN OVER BERKELEY IN MONARCH CLASSIC

WILKES-BARRE, PA – Four Colonels reached double figures in scoring as Wilkes University held on for a 67-63 victory over Berkeley College (NY) Saturday afternoon on day one of the Monarch Classic at Scandlon Gymnasium.

Wilkes improves to 5-3 overall following the victory. Berkeley falls to 5-3 on the year after the non-conference defeat.

Wilkes held a slim 27-23 advantage at the half thanks to eight points from Pat Furst (Jamison, PA/Central Bucks West) and six tallies from Alec Wizar (Lebanon, PA/Annville Cleona). Defense proved to be the calling card for both teams in the opening frame as each squad shot below 37.0 percent from the field.

The Colonels opened their largest lead of the game midway through the second half as Steve Stravinski (Pittston, PA/Pittston) and Tyler Jackson (Cresskill, NJ/Cresskill) drilled back-to-back three-pointers to put Wilkes ahead 50-43 with 9:49 on the clock.

Jackson kept Wilkes in front 58-53 five minutes later driving for a transition layup with 4:12 remaining in the game. A Cameron Hinkel (Millerstown, PA/Greenwood) trey came in between two Berkeley scores to keep the Colonels up two, 61-59 with just over two minutes left.

Two Jackson free throws and a Hinkel layup continued the Wilkes lead with under a minute remaining. From there, Berkeley scored inside the paint to cut the deficit to two, 65-63, setting up the final forty seconds of play.

Wilkes committed a turnover on its next possession, but a timely defensive stop and rebound sent Jimmy Brackett to the charity stripe with a chance to seal the game for the Colonels. Bracket missed the front end of the one and one, but Hinkel swooped in for the rebound and Berkeley was forced to foul again. Nic Wilkins (Dushore, PA/Sullivan County) made the first free throw and rebounded his own miss on the second and was fouled for a second straight time. Wilkins then sealed the win by making one of two on his next trip to the line putting Wilkes ahead 67-63 with just three ticks left on the clock.

Furst led four players in double figures finishing with 13 points and four rebounds. Hinkel, Wilkins, and Jackson each added 10 points in the win.

Keenan Langston led Berkeley with a game-high 21 points and four rebounds.

Wilkes concludes play at the Monarchs Classic tomorrow with a 1:00 p.m. matchup against Susquehanna. Susquehanna was a 73-67 winner over King's in the opening game on Saturday. King's will face Berkeley at 3:00 p.m. tomorrow to close out the event.

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