DALLAS, Pa. – The Wilkes University men's basketball team dropped a heartbreaking loss at Misericordia by an 85-81 final on Saturday afternoon in Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Freedom action.

The Colonels are now 11-12 overall and 5-7 in MAC Freedom play.

Misericordia started the game on a 17-11 run over the first 5:10 before Wilkes pushed through an 8-0 run to take a 19-17 lead with 12:57 left until halftime on a three-pointer from sophomore Clay Basalyga (Clarks Summit, Pa./Abington Heights) and buckets from sophomore Connor Evans (Cicero, N.Y./Cicero-North Syracuse) and sophomore Zach Walser (Marcellus, N.Y./Bishop Ludden).

With the Colonels leading 22-20 following a three-pointer from sophomore Marcus Robinson (Swedesboro, N.J./Kingsway Regional), the Cougars took a 10-0 run over the next four-and-a-half minutes before Evans was fouled attempting a three-pointer and converted all three free throw attempts to cut the deficit to 30-25 with 5:02 left in the first half.
Wilkes closed the half on a 15-9 run to enter halftime with a 40-39 lead.

Misericordia started the second half on a 7-2 run to take a 46-42 lead 1:16 into the second half before the Colonels went on a 10-2 run to take a four-point lead at 52-48 following a Robinson fast-break three-pointer, forcing the Cougars to call a full time out with just over 15 minutes left on the clock.

Misericordia tied the game with 10 minutes remaining following a 13-9 run to make the score 61-61. Following three good free throws from Evans for a 66-63 lead, the Cougars hit back-to-back three-pointers to take a 69-66 lead with 7:27 on the clock.

Both teams traded baskets over the next 6-plus minutes as Misericordia held on to a 79-75 lead with 1:03 in the game. The Cougars pushed the lead to 81-75 following two free throws, but Wilkes scored four straight points after Misericordia missed the front end of a one-and-one to cut the deficit to 81-79 with just over 22 seconds left on the clock. Sophomore Jason Kenny hit four-of-four free throws to close out the game for the Cougars.

The Colonels were led by Evans, who finished with a team-high 24 points and seven assists, backed by four-of-five shooting from three point range. Wilkes was also led by senior Zach Brunner (Mechanicsburg, PA/Mechanicsburg)'s 16 points and five rebounds and sophomore Tommy Bowen (Hummelstown, Pa./Lower Dauphin)'s 16 points and seven rebounds.

Misericordia was led by Kenny, who finished with a game-high 28 points to go with four assists. Freshman Tony Harding (23 points, five rebounds), senior Griffin Sponaugle (14 points, seven rebounds, four assists), and junior Tre Fields (13 points, nine rebounds, three assists) rounded out the double-figure scorers for the Cougars.

The Colonels return to action on Tuesday when they will host King's in MAC Freedom action. Prior to Tuesday's game, Wilkes will honor its lone graduating senior in a pre-game ceremony.