WILKES-BARRE – The Wilkes University men's basketball team shot 59.7 percent (43-72) from the field, including 63.2 percent (24-38) in the first half to cruise to a 110-92 victory over Marywood University in the first round of the Cross County Challenge at the Marts Center on Saturday afternoon.

The Colonels improved to 4-1 on the season with the victory, their first 100-point showing since defeating Baptist Bible (now Clarks Summit) 100-89 on 11/19/14.

Wilkes jumped out to an 11-2 lead with 16:54 on the clock following three-pointers from Tommy Bowen (Hummelstown, Pa./Lower Dauphin) and Marcus Robinson (Swedesboro, N.J./Kingsway Regional).

The Colonels finished the half on a 50-33 run to enter halftime with a 61-35 lead.

Wilkes started the second half on an 11-3 run to reach its biggest lead at 34 when it jumped out to a 72-38 lead through the first three-plus minutes.

Following a Mark Mullins (Binghamton, NY/Chenango Valley) three-pointer for an 83-49 lead with 13:01 left in the game, the Pacers commenced a 41-23 run to cut the Colonels lead to 106-90 with 1:44 remaining, but the Marywood was unable to come any closer.

Connor Evans (Cicero, N.Y./Cicero-North Syracuse) led the Colonels with a career-high 25 points and 12 assists, which is tied for the second-most assists in a single-game in program history, for his first career double-double. Marcus Robinson (Swedesboro, N.J./Kingsway Regional) added 16 points and Zach Brunner (Mechanicsburg, PA/Mechanicsburg) chipped in 10 points while Quin Parsons (West Grove, Pa./Avon Grove) contributed a career-high 12 points in 10 minutes off the bench.

Tip Swartz led the way for Marywood, finishing with 23 points. Jeremy Ringland added 20 points while Connor Shroyer contributed 17 points.

Wilkes' bench played a key role in the game, pouring in 48 points compared to 20 for the Pacers. The Colonels also proved more effective in transition than Marywood, outscoring the Pacers 22-4 on the fastbreak while also adding 16 second chance points to Marywood's six. Wilkes spread the wealth in the contest with 32 assists compared to nine for the Pacers and won the battle on the boards 31-22.

The Colonels return to action tomorrow when they face Scranton in the finale of the 2016-17 Cross County Challenge at 3 p.m. following the first game between Marywood and King's.