SCRANTON, Pa.- Five Colonels scored in double-figures as the Wilkes University men's basketball team defeated Marywood University by an 82-69 final on Saturday afternoon in the first round of the Cross-County Challenge at Marywood.

The Colonels improved to 3-2 with the win.

Both teams exchanged baskets in the first two-and-a-half minutes of the game. With the Pacers leading 4-3 and 17:36 on the clock, Wilkes went on a 16-2 run to push its lead to 13 at 19-6 with 13:03 in the first half.

Marywood responded with a 10-3 run of its own to cut the Colonels lead to six at 22-16, with 10:15 in the half, but the Wilkes would not let it stand as it immediately answered with a 15-0 run, increasing the lead to 21, the largest of the game, making the score 37-16 with 6:01 until the half. The Pacers cut the lead to 11, but the Colonels entered the half with a 43-30 lead.

Marywood fought back in the second half, cutting the Wilkes lead to two at 69-67 with 3:15 left in the game, but the Colonels finished the game on a 13-2 run.

Wilkes was led by Alec Wizar (Lebanon, PA/Annville Cleona), who finished with a team-high 19 points. Steve Stravinski (Pittston, PA/Pittston) finished with his first double-double of the season, totaling 18 points and a game-high 15 rebounds. Zachary Brunner (Mechanicsburg, PA/Mechanicsburg) (14 points) and Marcus Robinson (Swedesboro, N.J./Kingsway Regional) (12 points) also scored in double-figures, with Clay Basalyga (Clarks Summit, Pa./Abington Heights) contributing 11 points off the bench.

The Pacers were led by Shane Letthand, who scored a game-high 26 points.

The Colonels shot 46 percent from the field while holding Marywood to 36 percent, and outscored the Pacers in the paint 34-24.

Wilkes returns to the hardwood tomorrow afternoon at 1 p.m. for the final round of the Cross-County Challenge against the University of Scranton, with the game being played at Marywood.