Steve Finkernagel

Alec Wizar canned six three-pointer (22 points) in the loss at Misericordia Thursday

WILKES MEN’S BASKETBALL SLIPS AT MISERICORDIA 72-61 IN FREEDOM PLAY

2/6/2014 10:12:00 PM

Box Score

WILKES MEN'S BASKETBALL SLIPS AT MISERICORDIA 72-61 IN FREEDOM PLAY

DALLAS, PA – Wilkes University's Alec Wizar (Lebanon, PA/Annville Cleona) and Steve Stravinski (Pittston, PA/Pittston) combined for 42 points and 11 three-pointers, but host Misericordia University kept a double digit lead stand throughout the second half on way to a 72-61 victory over the Colonels Thursday night at the Anderson Center.

With the defeat, Wilkes falls to 7-12 overall and 2-7 in Freedom Conference games. Misericordia remains in the Freedom postseason picture improving to 13-8 overall and 7-3 in league contests.

Leading by seven at the half, Misericordia rode the play of forward Steve Ware to build its lead to double digits midway through the second stanza. Ware drove the lane for a bucket and followed with a block and transition score to give the Cougars a 53-39 advantage with 10:13 left.

The lead was cut to nine three minutes later after a deep trey from Wizar followed by a Tyler Jackson (Cresskill, NJ/Cresskill) layup and Nic Wilkins (Dushore, PA/Sullivan County) post score. Ware answered back for Misericordia scoring three more times in the paint on way to his game-high 27 points to extend the lead back to 12, 68-56 with just over three minutes remaining.

Wilkes used threes from Wizar and Stravinski on its next three possessions, but its wasn't enough as Misericordia connected on seven of eight from the charity stripe over the final two minutes to seal the home league victory.

After Misericordia began the game with back-to-back buckets, Stravinski canned a pair of three-pointers to cut the Cougar lead to four at 12-8 with 16:62 on the first half clock. Ware pushed the lead back to eight scoring inside twice including an old-fashioned three-point play just four minutes later.

Stravinski and Wizar combined for four more treys for Wilkes late in the frame to keep the Colonels at pace down 40-33 at the break. The teams held almost identical numbers statistically at the half as both shot 42.9 percent from the field while Misericordia held a slight 22-17 rebounding advantage (eight offensive). Ware accounted for 17 first half point not missing a shot in the frame going 6-for-6 from the field and a perfect 5-for-5 at the line.

Wizar led the Colonels with a team-high 22 points on 8-for-14 shooting from the floor. He canned 6-of-9 from beyond the arc, the third time this season the sophomore sharpshooter has hit six or more threes in a game. Stravinski followed with 20 points on 5-for-10 shooting from long range while adding seven rebounds. No other Colonel scored more than six points.

Ware paced the Cougars with a game-high 27 points and 12 rebounds including a 9-for-10 performance from the free throw line. Matt Greene scored 16 points including the 1,000^th of his career in the win.

Wilkes returns home to the Marts Center Saturday welcoming Manhattanville College for a Freedom Conference matchup at 3:00 p.m.

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