WILKES-BARRE- Eastern University used a 33-12 run over the last 11:56 of the Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom opener for both teams to send the Wilkes University men's basketball team an 82-67 loss at the Marts Center on Wednesday night.

The Colonels fell to 3-4 overall and 0-1 in MAC Freedom play.

Neither team was able to gain much of an advantage in the first half of play, with Wilkes securing the largest lead at 17-10 with 10:16 remaining. Eastern led at the half by a 31-29 score.

Wilkes came out hot in the second half, making six shots from beyond the three-point line to push its lead to 55-49 with 12:31 remaining. The Eagles found their stride after the run and outscored the Colonels 33-12 the rest of the way.

Wilkes was led by Steve Stravinski (Pittston, PA/Pittston), who scored 18 points on six of ten shooting including four for six beyond the arc. Stravinski also added a game-high eight rebounds. Connor Evans (Cicero, N.Y./Cicero-North Syracuse) joined Stravinski in double figures with 10 points and a game-high five assists.

Eastern was led by Shaquan Turk, who totaled a game-high 20 points. He was joined in double figures by Austin James, who added 11 points. Malcolm Garrison contributed 16 points off the bench.

The Colonels return to action on Saturday when they travel to Purchase, N.Y. for a 3 p.m. MAC Freedom game against Manhattanville.