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Wilkes University Athletics

THE OFFICIAL WEBSITE OF THE WILKES UNIVERSITY COLONELS
THE OFFICIAL WEBSITE OF THE WILKES UNIVERSITY COLONELS WILKES UNIVERSITY COLONELS
Steve Finkernagel
87
FDU-Florham FDUFM 2-22,1-12Freedom
89
Winner Wilkes University WUMB 12-12,7-6Freedom
FDU-Florham FDUFM
2-22,1-12Freedom
87
Final
89
Wilkes University WUMB
12-12,7-6Freedom
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
FDU-Florham FDUFM 40 47 87
Wilkes University WUMB 40 49 89

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

Hinkel’s Late Heroics Leads Colonels Past FDU-Florham 89-87

Hinkel's Late Heroics Leads Colonels Past FDU-Florham 89-87
 
WILKES-BARRE – Cameron Hinkel (Millerstown, PA/Greenwood) received the ball on the top of the foul line took three hard dribbles to his right and hit a tough bank shot to give the Colonels an 89-87 win over FDU-Florham on Tuesday evening.

The win keeps the Colonels in the playoff hunt as they improve to 12-12 overall and 7-6 in the Freedom Conference.  FDU-Florham who has played quite well of late drops to 2-22 overall and 1-12 in the Conference.

Wilkes fell behind early in the game before Alec Wizar (Lebanon, PA/Annville Cleona) made good on a three-point attempt to give the Colonels a 10-9 lead three minutes into the first half.  The two teams exchanged baskets over the next six minutes of action before Wilkes went on a quick 7-0 spurt to open up a 28-21 advantage with 9:29 remaining in the half.  The Devils didn't fade away and responded with a 12-1 run to put them back up 33-29 with 6:10 on the clock.  Donte Ali flushed home a dunk for the Devils to extend their lead to 40-33 with three minute to go in the half before Wilkes clawed back into the game with a 7-0 run to close the half and tie the score up at 40-40.

Jeremy Hartman (Little Egg Harbor, NJ/Pinelands Regional) was a force to handle down low for the Devils as he scored 10 points and grabbed three rebounds in the first half.  Tyler Jackson (Cresskill, NJ/Cresskill) and Wizar chipped in with seven a piece.  Wilkes shot an efficient 47.1% (16-34) from the floor and 40% (4-10) from beyond the arc.

Donte Ali scored 14 and grabbed four boards for the Devils in the first half while Steve Herdman finished with 10 including two made three's.  FDU shot 45.7% (16-35) from the field and 25% (3-12) from deep.

The Colonels opened the second half on a 9-2 run thanks in part to two three's from Wizar and one from Jackson.  Wilkes maintained a five point lead throughout the first ten minutes of the second half with Steve Stravinski (Pittston, PA/Pittston) and Hinkel picking up most of the scoring.

John Goffredo (Bangor, PA/Pius X) who had been in a 1-for-20 shooting slump hit a big corner three-pointer for Wilkes helping to spark a 7-0 run that saw Wilkes lead 67-56 with 9:35 remaining in the game.  Devin Dunn (Staten Island, NY/Monsignor Farrell) scored seven points over a two minute span helping to cement the Colonels lead at 75-63 with seven minutes left in the game.  Jackson then hit what looked like a dagger three to put Wilkes up 15 (78-63) with six minutes remaining seemingly leaving FDU with little hope of a comeback. 

FDU thought different and over the remaining six minutes were able to cap off an amazing 15 point run and tie the game at 87-87 when Ryan Rigby hit a jumper with :10 seconds left in the game.  The Devils made five three-pointers during their frantic comeback, many of which were deep and well contested. 

Despite being shell shocked from allowing FDU to tie the game the Colonels remained focused and confident that they could still win the game with some late magic at home.  Jackson received the inbounds pass beyond half court quickly dribbled up the court where he found Hinkel coming off a curling screen at the foul line.  Hinkel caught the ball took three hard dribbles to his right and floated up a shot that kissed sweetly off the backboard and through the hoop propelling the Colonels to the lead at 89-87 with :01 second left on the clock.  The Devils desperation chance to tie or win the game was knocked down out of the air and Wilkes' playoff hopes remained intact.

Six different Colonels scored in double-digits as the team shot 54.1% (33-61) from the field and a scorching 54.5% (12-22) from distance.  Jackson led all scorers with 16, including five three-pointers.  Stravinski finished with a double-double, 14 points and 10 rebounds.  Wizar collected 13 points on three triples and Hinkel finished with 12 points including a perfect 6-for-6 from the charity stripe.  Hartman and Dunn each finished with 11 off the bench providing big sparks during the first and second half's.  The Colonels bench outscored the Devils bench 28-8.

Ali finished with a game-high 26 points and grabbed seven boards for the Devils.  Tymiak Hawkins filled the stat sheet with 16 points, seven assists and five rebounds.  Herdman made four three's en route to 16 points.  Kevin Furlong dished out a team high eight assists to go along with 11 points and five rebounds.  Ryan Rigby was the final double digit scorer for the Devils with 10.  FDU shot 50% (35-70) from the floor and made 35.5% (11-31) of their three-point attempts.

Wilkes returns to action on Saturday when they take on River Street rival King's College in what will be a winner takes all matchup.  If the Colonels win they will clinch the 4th seed and a spot in next week's Freedom Conference Tournament.  Game time is slated for 3:00 p.m.
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