WILKES-BARRE – In a game that the Wilkes University men's basketball team led for virtually the entire way and surrendered a lead no larger than two, DeSales University hit a three-pointer with five seconds on the clock as the Colonels fell by a 72-71 final in Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Freedom action at the Marts Center on Wednesday evening.

Wilkes fell to 11-11 overall and 5-6 in MAC Freedom play with the defeat.

The Colonels controlled the first half, as the Bulldogs jumped out to a 2-0 lead just 17 seconds in before Wilkes went on a 34-18 run over the next 15 minutes to reach its largest lead of the game at 34-20 with 4:17 until halftime. DeSales finished the half on a 10-3 run as the Colonels entered halftime up 37-30.

The Bulldogs started the second half on an 8-0 run to take a 38-37 lead, its first since the very beginning of the game, with 17:19 on the clock.

Wilkes maintained a small lead over the next 10-plus minutes, getting as high as five with a 58-53 lead with 7:51 in the game.

Neither team could put together a solid run, but with the game tied at 67 and just 23 seconds on the clock, sophomore Connor Evans (Cicero, N.Y./Cicero-North Syracuse) hit a three-pointer to give the Colonels a 70-67 lead. DeSales took only one second to answer, converting a layup on the other end before committing a foul and sending Wilkes to the free-throw line. The Colonels were only able to convert the front end, and on the ensuing rebound senior Brian Laird caught a full-length pass from fellow senior Kuity Slanger in the right corner and drilled a three-pointer with five seconds on the clock to give the Bulldogs a 72-71 lead the proved to be the game winner.

Wilkes was led by sophomore Marcus Robinson (Swedesboro, N.J./Kingsway Regional) (13 points, four rebounds) and sophomore Tommy Bowen (Hummelstown, Pa./Lower Dauphin) (13 points, six rebounds). Evans rounded out the double-digit scorers for the Colonels with 12 points and three rebounds.

DeSales was led by senior Ryan Callahan, who finished with 17 points and seven rebounds. Slanger added 16 points, seven rebounds, and four assists, while Laird (12 points) and sophomore Luke Connaghan (10 points, five rebounds) rounded out the scorers in double-figures.

Wilkes returns to action on Saturday when it travels to Misericordia for a 3:00 p.m. MAC Freedom matchup.