Wilkes University Athletics

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Steve Finkernagel

Nic Wilkins scored a career-high 23 points in the loss at Eastern Saturday

EASTERN AVENGES EARLIER LOSS POSTING 86-67 WIN OVER WILKES MEN’S BASKETBALL SATURDAY

2/15/2014 5:26:00 PM

Box Score

EASTERN AVENGES EARLIER LOSS POSTING 86-67 WIN OVER WILKES MEN'S BASKETBALL SATURDAY

ST. DAVIDS, PA – Just over two weeks removed from dropping a one-point decision at Wilkes University, host Eastern University saw four players reach double figures in a balanced scoring effort on way to a 86-67 victory over the Colonels in Freedom Conference action Saturday afternoon.

Wilkes falls to 8-14 overall and 3-9 in Freedom play following the defeat. Eastern improves to 9-14 on the year, 3-9 in league contests.

The two teams met on January 29^th with the Colonels holding onto a 72-71 victory at home in the Marts Center in a back-and-forth affair. This game was far from parallel to the first as the host Eagles jumped out to an early lead and never looked back.

The teams traded baskets early before Eastern used a 13-2 run midway through the half to take a 26-15 lead with 9:45 on the clock. Two free throws from Pat Furst (Jamison, PA/Central Bucks West) and an inside score from Nic Wilkins (Dushore, PA/Sullivan County) cut the Eagles lead to eight, 33-25, with 3:36 left in the half. Eastern finished the half with a Anthony Parenti layup before Wilkes' Jimmy Brackett connected on a mid-range jumper with :39 left to trim the Eagles edge to 41-30 at the break.

Wilkes opened the half with a quick rally scoring nine straight points to come to within two, 41-39, with 17:43 on the clock. Steve Stravinski (Pittston, PA/Pittston) began the spurt with a layup followed by an inside score from Furst and three-pointer from Wilkins. A Wilkins jump hook in the lane ended the run putting the Colonels back into the contest with over 16 minutes remaining.

Eastern slowly built its lead back to double digits doing most of its damage on a 9-0 run at the charity stripe. Eastern went 5-for-5 from the line and added a deep trey to push the lead back to 11, 52-41, with 14:42 left.

The lead ballooned to 23 later in the frame as the Eagles caught fire from long range canning three straight three-pointers to open up a 69-46 advantage with just over seven minutes remaining. Wilkes would not come any closer than 17 over the final six minutes of the game as Eastern continued to make free throws finishing 11-for-12 for the half.

Wilkins enjoyed his finest outing in the Navy and Gold finishing with a career-high 23 points and seven rebounds. Furst followed with 12 points and eight boards, while Stravinski finished with eight points on two treys.

Austin Carroll led four Eagles in double figures finishing with a team-high 19 points and eight rebounds. Jordan Diggs followed with 13 points, while Shaquan Turk added 12 and Jimmie Willis 11 in the win.

Eastern did an excellent job of taking advantage of the 15 Wilkes turnovers in the contest, scoring 23 points off of Colonel miscues.

Wilkes returns home Tuesday welcoming DeSales University for a Freedom Conference matchup at 8:00 p.m. at the Marts Center.

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