Wilkes University Athletics

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Steve Finkernagel

Wilkes played its best game of the season in the 98-75 rout of Manhattanville at the Marts Center on Saturday

STRAVINSKI’S CAREER DAY LIFTS WILKES MEN’S BASKETBALL PAST MANHATTANVILLE 98-75

2/8/2014 5:29:00 PM

Box Score

STRAVINSKI'S CAREER DAY LIFTS WILKES MEN'S BASKETBALL PAST MANHATTANVILLE 98-75

WILKES-BARRE – Steve Stravinski (Pittston, PA/Pittston) scored a career-high 30 points and Wilkes University shot a season-high 56.9 percent from the field in a 98-75 rout of visiting Manhattanville College Saturday afternoon at the Marts Center.

With the victory Wilkes moves to 8-12 overall and 3-7 in Freedom play. Manhattanville drops to 10-11 and 6-4 in league games.

The Colonels began the game with a fury burying the Valiants early never looking back. Wilkes went up 8-0 to start the contest using an Alec Wizar (Lebanon, PA/Annville Cleona) trey to finish the spurt. Another 8-0 run midway through the first half pushed the lead to twenty, 26-6, as Pat Furst (Jamison, PA/Central Bucks West), Craig Thomas (Avenel, NJ/Cardinal McCarrick) and Stravinski all cashed in on buckets near the hoop.

Manhattanville clawed its way back to 12 late in the frame, but another jumper from Wizar and a deep three-pointer from Stravinski gave the Colonels a 52-33 advantage at the break. Wilkes shot a blistering 69.0 percent from the field canning 20 of the 29 shots it attempted as a team. Stravinski and Wizar added the firepower from long range going a combined 6-for-9 from deep to lead the attack.

The second half was much of the same as Stravinski continued to pile on the points from the outside. Another three from the sophomore sharpshooter kept the Colonels ahead 59-41 with 16:43 left in the game. The Wilkes lead would balloon to 33 (88-55) after Nic Wilkins (Dushore, PA/Sullivan County) scored inside and PJ Hefner (Forest Hill, MD/St. Pauls) added one of two free throws with 6:02 on the clock. From there, the Wilkes bench was cleared as 12 different Colonels saw the floor with all but two hitting the scoring column.

Stravinski was hot from the outside all day finishing 10-for-16 from the field and 6-for-12 from long range on way to his career-high 30 points. He added nine rebounds, two blocks and three steals to complete his all-around afternoon. Wizar followed with 21 points on 7-for-11 shooting and three three-pointers. Wilkins came off the bench to score 19 points and grab five rebounds, while Furst added 10 points and three rebounds in 16 minutes.

Wilkes made 33 of the 58 shots it attempted in the game including nine from three-point distance (45.0 percent). The Colonels also overpowered Manhattanville on the glass outrebounding the Valiants 48-26 including 10 offensive rebounds.

Colin Campbell led Manhattanville with a team-high 23 points including 20 in the first half. Jack Bramwig added 13 points and two rebounds, while Andrew Murray contributed 12 points and three boards.

Wilkes continues Freedom play Wednesday traveling to FDU-Florham for a matchup at 8:00 p.m. in Madison, NJ.

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