WILKES-BARRE – The Wilkes University men's basketball team had five players reach doubles figures scoring in its 87-81 home-opening victory over Penn State Wilkes-Barre at the Marts Center Tuesday night in non-conference action.

Mark Mullins (Binghamton, NY/Chenango Valley) led Wilkes with 20 points while Zach Walser (Marcellus, NY/Bishop Ludden) established a new career high with 14 points. Tommy Bowen (Hummelstown, PA/Lower Dauphin) registered his third career double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds while Marcus Robinson (Swedesboro, NJ/Kingsway Regional) and Rob Pecorelli (Huntington, NY/Harborfields) added 18 and 12 points respectively.

Wilkes improved to 4-0 with the victory while Penn State Wilkes-Barre dropped 2-2.

Walser handed the Colonels their first lead of the contest when he hit a baseline jumper off a pass from Donovan Breeding (Manassas, VA/Osbourn) to make the score 8-6 at the 14:13 mark of the first half.

Ameer Biddle's layup provided the Nittany Lions with the game's first lead either way larger than two points as the visitors went ahead 18-14 with 11:23 on the first half clock. After the Penn State lead grew to five points Robinson connected on the first Colonels three-point shot of the night to make the score 23-21 with 8:21 on the clock. With the make Robinson moved into fifth place on the Wilkes all-time three-pointers made list with 216.

Two Landon Henry (Hughesville, PA/Hughesville) free throws gave Wilkes the lead back at 25-24 with 5:24 left after he was fouled in the backcourt. After a quick steal by Jack Bova (Camillus, NY/West Genesee), Pecorelli found a streaking Bowen for a fast-break finish as the Colonels went ahead by more than two points for the first time.

Mullins converted a free throw to finish off a four-point play after he was fouled outside the top of the arc to push Wilkes ahead 33-29 with 2:00 minutes left until halftime. Two Pecorelli conversions from the charity stripe capped a 14-5 run for Wilkes but a Kahlil White three for the Nittany Lions at the buzzer sent the game into the break with the Colonels ahead 35-32.

Mullins led Wilkes with 12 first-half points while Walser added eight.

Robinson started the second half strong with seven points including one make from behind the arc as the Colonels went ahead 44-37 with 17:23 left.

Walser made a lay up to give Wilkes a 51-42 lead with 13:56 to go after a nice entry pass over the top from Henry. The senior continued his strong play with a hook shot in the lane to stop a four-point run by the Nittany Lions and establish his new career high.

After a Davaughn Roberts three pulled Wilkes-Barre back within two points at 53-51 the Colonels went on a 13-2 sprint capped off by a Connor Evans (Cicero, NY/Cicero-North Syracuse) transition three and Bowen transition lay up as Wilkes led 66-53 with 8:46 remaining.

Robinson made his fourth steal of the game on the defensive end and weaved through the defense to make a fast-break layup and then followed with a trey on the Colonels next possession to push the Wilkes advantage to 76-61 with 4:46 left.

The visitors went on a 20-9 run to trim the Colonels lead to 85-81 with 54 seconds remaining in the game. However, Wilkes converted two free throws and Penn State could not connect down the stretch to provide the 87-81 final score.

Wilkes gained control in the second half on the glass as the team scored 15 second chance points to just five for Wilkes-Barre. The Colonels held a 39-32 rebounding edge in the game. Wilkes was also strong in transition, scoring 20 points on the fast break compared to 14 for the visitors.

The Colonels return to the court on Wednesday, November 28 when they welcome non-conference opponent Drew University to the Marts Center for a 7:00 p.m. tipoff.