WILKES-BARRE – Drake Marshall (Gainesville, VA/Patriot) poured in a career-high 35 points including 23 tallies in the second half and deciding overtime period to lift host Wilkes University to a 97-93 victory over Arcadia University in a MAC Freedom contest Saturday afternoon at the Marts Center.
 
Wilkes records its first victory of the 2020-2021 season improving to 1-3 overall while Arcadia suffered its first defeat falling to 3-1 on the year.
 
The teams traded baskets early in the first half before a three-pointer at the top of the key from Zachary Gula (Walnutport, PA/Northampton) tied the score at 15 with 11:28 on the clock. A deep three-pointer from Arcadia followed by an offensive rebound put-back and driving layup gave the Knights a 22-15 advantage four minutes later. Donovan Breeding (Manassas, VA/Osbourn) ended the Knights 9-0 run with a three-pointer of his own cutting the deficit to 24-18 with 6:23 remaining in the half.
 
Marshall kept the Colonels at pace with his 12 first half points scoring from behind the line once and adding a driving score and two more from the free throw line as Wilkes trailed 41-35 at the break.
 
Wilkes opened the second half hitting on all cylinders on both ends of the floor holding Arcadia scoreless through a 2:07 stretch while clawing back within two at 46-44 at the 15:58 mark. Two inside scores from Breeding sandwiched between a Landon Henry (Hughesville, PA/Hughesville) trey delivered the damage for the Colonels during the run. Another bucket from Marshall followed by a layup by Breeding tied the game at 48 with just over 14 minutes remaining.
 
The comeback was complete when Derek Heiserman (Lansdale, PA/North Penn) scored a jump hook to put Wilkes ahead 52-50, only the second time the Colonels led since early in the first stanza. Arcadia answered back with back-to-back three-pointers to steal the advantage away leading 60-56 midway through the second frame.
 
After the Knights were whistled for an unsportsmanlike technical foul, Wilkes cashed in on two free throws and a Heiserman score to tie the game at 62 with 8:29 left. Again the teams traded scores before Matthew Davidheiser (Reading, PA /Exeter Township) drilled a deep step-back three-pointer, his second of the half, to put Wilkes ahead 70-69 with 5:21 remaining in the game.
 
From there Marshall continued his career day putting the offense on his shoulders canning a trey followed by back-to-back jumpers to give Wilkes an 81-79 lead with 1:45 left. After one free throw from Arcadia, Marshall struck again this time driving to the hoop for a reverse layup pushing the advantage to 83-80 with 1:10 on the clock. Arcadia answered back with a quick score to cut into the lead setting up the final minute of play.
 
Arcadia's Da'Kquan Davis scored back-to-back buckets giving the Knights an 84-83 lead with :27 left before Wilkes' Heiserman would be fouled on the ensuing possession. Heiserman made good on one of two from the stripe tying the game at 84 with :7 remaining.
 
Davis' runner would fall short on the next possession sending the game into overtime.
 
Arcadia started with two straight scores before Marshall and Henry sank back-to-back treys to give Wilkes a one point lead with 2:30 left in the extra period. One free throw from Heiserman and two from Henry pushed the advantage to 93-89 with one minute left.  After an Arcadia score, Marshall sank two more free throws to keep the Colonels ahead by four with :40 remaining. After two free throws by Arcadia, the Knights had one last chance to tie but a jumper fell short and Wilkes snatched the rebound calling a timeout. After a successful inbounds, Sean Coller (Hershey, PA/Hershey) was fouled and calmly sank both free throws to put Wilkes ahead for good with a four-point lead.
 
Marshall surpassed his previous career-high of 16 points on 12-for-17 shooting including two three-pointers and 9-of-10 from the charity stripe in 36 minutes. Breeding followed with 15 points while Davidheiser added 10 points off the bench.
 
Davis led all scorers in the game pacing Arcadia with 36 points on 12-for-24 shooting while adding four rebounds and three assists.
 
The Colonels return to action on Thursday when they travel to Madison, NJ for a 7:00 p.m. matchup against FDU-Florham. The two teams then conclude the home/away series with a game at the Marts Center on Friday starting at 7:00 p.m.