ALLIANCE, Ohio – The Wilkes University men's basketball team held a four point lead entering halftime but Mount Union stormed back over the final six minutes to steal a 74-70 victory in the opener of the Mount Union Holiday Classic in Ohio on Thursday evening.

The Colonels fell to 5-5 on the season.

Wilkes led by just a point through the first five-plus minutes before the Colonels started a 13-0 run to take a 24-10 lead with 9:25 left in the half. The Raiders finished the half on a 22-12 run to cut the lead to 36-32 at halftime.

Wilkes matched its largest lead after starting the second half on a 22-12 run of its own, leading 58-44 with 8:45 on the clock, and matching that lead at 64-50 with 5:47 left in the game.

Mount Union turned it on over the last six minutes, finishing the game on a 24-6 run to steal the game and send the Colonels to the consolation game.

Mark Mullins (Binghamton, NY/Chenango Valley) and Connor Evans (Cicero, N.Y./Cicero-North Syracuse) led Wilkes with 12 points, setting a career-high for Mullins who was making his first collegiate start. Marcus Robinson (Swedesboro, N.J./Kingsway Regional) finished with nine points and six assists.

DeAllen Jackson led the Raiders with a game-high 24 points and 16 rebounds. JJ Kukura finished with 21 points and five assists while Tommy Stenger added 13 points off the bench.

The Colonels return to action tomorrow when they face Hope College at 1 p.m.