Steve Finkernagel

Wilkes could not keep its big first half lead in the loss against Marywood Friday

LATE BUCKET DOOMS WILKES MEN’S BASKETBALL IN 61-60 LOSS AGAINST MARYWOOD IN CROSS COUNTY CHALLENGE OPENER

1/3/2014 8:30:00 PM

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LATE BUCKET DOOMS WILKES MEN'S BASKETBALL IN 61-60 LOSS AGAINST MARYWOOD IN CROSS COUNTY CHALLENGE OPENER

SCRANTON, PA – Shane Letthand's jump shot and subsequent steal propelled Marywood University to a 61-60 victory over Wilkes University in the opening game of the 2014 Cross County Challenge at the Long Center.

Wilkes falls to 5-5 overall on the year with the defeat, while Marywood improves to 4-5 on the season.

The Colonels held a big lead in the first half thanks to some hot shooting from Steve Stravinski (Pittston, PA/Pittston). Back-to-back three-pointers from Stravinski and a Cameron Hinkel (Millerstown, PA/Greenwood) transition layup off a feed ahead from Tyler Jackson (Cresskill, NJ/Cresskill) opened a 17-10 lead for Wilkes with 11:32 left in the first half. Stravinski made good on his third and fourth treys of the opening frame just two minutes later pushing the lead to 23-11.

The threes continued to rain for the Colonels when Alec Wizar (Lebanon, PA/Annville Cleona) hit from long range as the lead grew to 26-13 with just under eight minutes to play in the half.

The Wilkes defense was aggressive throughout the first frame holding Marywood without a basket for five straight minutes late in the half to build onto its lead. Four straight points from Nic Wilkins (Dushore, PA/Sullivan County) gave the Colonels their largest lead of the game 32-15 with 3:38 on the first half clock. Another triple from Wizar and jumper from Jackson gave Wilkes a 39-24 lead at the break.

Stravinski's hot hand continued in the second half as the sophomore sharpshooter buried a trey from the top of the key to push the lead to 44-27 with 16:25 remaining.

Marywood answered with a 23-8 run midway through the stanza to cut the Wilkes lead to 52-50 with 5:32 left. After a Colonel turnover, Marywood hit one of two free throws to bring the Pacers to within one, 52-51 with 4:51 on the second half clock. From there, Wilkins canned a big three-pointer from the left corner to keep the lead at 55-51. Another three-point play, this time an old-fashioned bucket and foul on a spinning Pat Furst (Jamison, PA/Central Bucks West) layup in the lane kept Wilkes ahead with under three minutes remaining.

Marywood used one last surge in the final minute coming to within one 60-59 setting up the final two possessions. After another Wilkes turnover with under forty-five seconds, Letthand hit a 16-foot jump shot with seven seconds left to give Marywood its first and only lead of the contest. Jackson advanced the ball up the floor for Wilkes, but loss the handle and Letthand swiped it away to seal the come-from-behind victory.

Stravinski led the way with a game-high 22 points on 6-for-10 shooting from deep. Wilkins was the only other Colonel to reach double figures finishing with 13 points and seven rebounds.

After shooting a blistering 55.6 percent from the floor in the first half, the Colonel went cold in the second stanza shooting just 25.9 percent over the final twenty minutes.

Shane Kellaher led the Marywood offense with 16 points while Kendall Harris added 14 points and six boards.

Wilkes concludes the Cross County Challenge tomorrow with a matchup against host Scranton at 4:00 p.m. at the Long Center.

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