SELINSGROVE, PA – Tommy Bowen (Hummelstown, PA/Lower Dauphin) scored 17 points for the Wilkes University men's basketball team in non-conference action Wednesday night at Susquehanna University inside O.W. Houts Gymnasium but the River Hawks used a key scoring run to start the second half to pull away to an 88-64 victory.

The meeting marked the first time the two programs have crossed paths since the 2014-15 season. Wilkes dropped to 9-3 overall on the season while Susquehanna, out of the Landmark Conference, improved to 8-4.

Susquehanna built a six point lead early in the first half before a three-point play by Bowen and a Connor Evans (Cicero, NY/Cicero-North Syracuse) conversion from beyond the arc tied the score at 15-15 with 8:59 remaining until halftime.

A five-point spurt on a three by Bowen and a layup by Mark Mullins (Binghamton, NY/Chenango Valley) put the Colonels ahead 22-21 with 4:52 left. Following a River Hawks layup Noah Jackson (Mountain Top, PA/Crestwood) converted on consecutive possessions with layups to make it 26-24. Evans then hit his second three of the half and Jackson added another bucket as Wilkes grabbed its largest lead at 31-26 with 1:46 left until half. The River Hawks then closed the half on an 8-3 run as the two sides were knotted at 34-34 heading to the break.

The hosts capped off a 19-0 run with the first 14 points of the second half to take control of the game at 48-34 before Marcus Robinson (Swedesboro, NJ/Kingsway Regional) stopped the scoring run with a jumper. Susquehanna's lead grew to 20 points with 14:14 left and the Colonels were unable to cut into the lead from that point forward.

Bowen scored in double figures for the seventh time in 12 games this season. Evans added nine points and Robinson had eight. Mullins finished with seven points and seven rebounds while Jackson recorded his career-high with seven points and was 3-of-3 from the field.

Susquehanna had seven players score eight or more points and Bryce Butler led four in double figures with 13 points.

The Colonels close out the non-conference portion of their schedule on Saturday when they travel to Grantham, Pa. to take on Messiah College at 2:00 p.m.