MADISON, N.J. - The Wilkes University men's basketball team battled back from a double-digit deficit in the second half but fell by an 86-79 final at Drew University on Thursday night.

The loss drops the Colonels to 3-6 overall this season.

Wilkes started the game on a 6-0 run with two three-pointers from Alec Wizar (Lebanon, PA/Annville Cleona), but the Rangers were quick to answer with a 5-0 run of their own. Wilkes then went on a 9-0 run with three-pointers by Zachary Brunner (Mechanicsburg, PA/Mechanicsburg), Wizar, and Marcus Robinson (Swedesboro, N.J./Kingsway Regional) to make the score 18-9 with 16:58 in the first half. Drew battled back to tie the score at 22 and 25, and both teams exchanged baskets with the Rangers entering the half up 40-38.

Drew started the second half on a 15-7 run to push its lead to 10, its largest of the game, at 55-45 with 15:32 on the clock. The Colonels fought back with a 17-7 run to tie the score at 62-62 with 9:21 in the half. Both teams exchanged baskets with the score being tied at 67, 68, 75, and 77 over the next eight minutes. With 58 seconds remaining in the game the Rangers went on a 7-2 run to finish the game.

Wilkes was led by Robinson, Wizar, and Steve Stravinski (Pittston, PA/Pittston), who each totaled 15 points. Brunner added 13 and Connor Evans (Cicero, N.Y./Cicero-North Syracuse) contributed 13 off the bench.

Drew was led in double figures by Joey Feinberg (24 points, five assists), Kevin Herring II (23 points), and Brian McLaughlin (20 points).

The Colonels return to action on December 27^th when they travel to Pittsford, N.Y. to take on Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in the first round of the St. John Fisher Tournament with a 6 p.m. start time.