CENTER VALLEY, Pa. – The Wilkes University men's basketball team trailed by five points entering the second half but outscored DeSales University 42-33 in the second half to claim a 78-74 win in Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Freedom play on Wednesday evening, snapping a three game slide.

The Colonels improved to 8-8 overall and 2-3 in MAC Freedom play with the victory.

The Bulldogs held the largest lead of the first half, achieving a 10-point lead at 41-31 with 44 seconds left before Wilkes finished the half on a 5-0 run.

DeSales  pushed its lead back to seven through the first two-and-a-half minutes of the second half at 45-38 before Wilkes stormed back with a 12-0 run to take a 50-45 lead with 12:21 left in the game following a three-pointer from sophomore Tommy Bowen (Hummelstown, Pa./Lower Dauphin).

The Bulldogs were able to cut the lead to 56-55 with 8:56 remaining before Wilkes went on a 9-0 run to take a 65-55 lead with 5:45 on the clock. The lead was short lived, however, as DeSales countered with an 8-0 run over the next 58 seconds to cut the lead to 65-63.

The two teams traded baskets over the next two minutes before sophomore Marcus Robinson (Swedesboro, N.J./Kingsway Regional) hit a three-pointer with 2:20 in the game to push the lead to 74-69. The Bulldogs struck back with two free throws and a layup to cut the lead to one point at 74-73 with 43 seconds left, but sophomore Connor Evans (Cicero, N.Y./Cicero-North Syracuse) and Robinson each hit one layup sandwiching a clutch defense stop, followed by two game-icing free throws from freshman Mark Mullins (Binghamton, NY/Chenango Valley) to give Wilkes the victory and keep them in the playoff hunt.

Evans and junior Zach Brunner (Mechanicsburg, PA/Mechanicsburg) led the way with 13 points each with Evans adding in six assists. Bowen (10 points, seven assists) and Mullins (10 points) rounded out the scorers in double-figures for the Colonels.

Ryan Callahan finished with a game-high 16 points to go with six rebounds for DeSales. Kuity Slanger added 11 points, seven rebounds, and six assists while Connor Jones (12 points), Brandon Bridy (11 points, 12 rebounds), and Tracy Simsick (11 points) all contributed double-figures off the bench.

Wilkes turned 20 Bulldog turnovers into 23 points, while the Colonels committed 10 turnovers, which turned in 13 points for DeSales.

Wilkes returns to action on Saturday when it travels to cross-town rival King's for a 3 p.m. MAC Freedom game.