Lockdown Defense Lifts Wilkes Men's Basketball to Huge Win over Misericordia
DALLAS, Pa. – An exceptional team defensive effort helped lead the Wilkes University men's basketball team to a 69-54 win over Misericordia in Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom (MAC Freedom) play on Wednesday evening. The Colonels held the Cougars to just 32 percent (19-60) shooting from the field including 19 percent (5-27) from long distance.
Wilkes improved to 7-4 in league play and 15-7 overall with the win.
Misericordia started the scoring with a three-pointer 44 seconds into the game. The Colonels countered with a 5-0 run on a Mark Mullins (Binghamton, NY/Chenango Valley) jumper and three-pointer from Rob Pecorelli (Huntington, NY/Harborfields).
Both teams matched baskets over the next ten minutes as neither team was able to generate an extended run. After a Mullins free throw put Wilkes up 21-20 with 8:28 left in the first, the Colonels proceeded to finish the first half on a 12-4 run to enter the break with a 32-24 lead.
Wilkes began the second half on a 5-0 run to push its advantage to 13 at 37-24 following a Mullins layup at 19:19.
The Colonels found themselves up by as many as 21 points after a Mullins layup with 7:49 on the clock to make the score 57-36. The Cougars attempted a comeback in the final five minutes; however, Wilkes' lead never sunk below 11 as it cruised to the much needed win.
Mullins led all scorers with a game-high 20 points to go with five rebounds. Marcus Robinson (Swedesboro, NJ/Kingsway Regional) added 15 points and four assists while Tommy Bowen (Hummelstown, PA/Lower Dauphin) and Pecorelli each contributed 13 points while finishing with 11 and nine rebounds, respectively.
Justin Iton was the only Cougar to finish in double-digits, supplying 16 points and 10 rebounds. Wilkes held Jason Kenny, who entered the game as the conference's leading scorer, to just eight points on 2-of-12 shooting from the field.
The Colonels return to the hardwood on Saturday for a MAC Freedom game against King's College. Prior to the contest, Wilkes will honor its five seniors playing in their final home game. The game will also be a "Play4Kay" game supporting the Kay Yow Cancer Fund.
