GETTYSBURG, PA – Leading by 13 points at the half, the Wilkes University men's basketball team was unable to hold onto the advantage as Eastern University outscored the Colonels 41-21 over the final twenty minutes on way to a 65-58 victory capturing the Gettysburg Tournament championship Saturday afternoon at Bream Gymnasium.
 
Wilkes suffered its first defeat of the 2022-23 season dropping to 2-1. Eastern remained unbeaten at 3-0 on the young season following the come-from-behind victory.
 
Wilkes jumped out to a 37-24 lead at the break thanks to the play of Drake Marshall (Gainesville, VA/Patriot). After a bucket inside from Jake Robel (Middlesex, NJ/Middlesex), Marshall connected on a three-pointer to give the Colonels its largest lead of the half up 19-6 with 10:13 on the clock.
 
Another trey from Marshall and a three-pointer from Lucas Lesko (Northampton, PA/Northampton) kept the Colonels ahead with under six minutes remaining. Eastern cut the lead down to nine late in the half before buckets from Cayden Merrifield (Scranton, PA/West Scranton) and Matthew Davidheiser (Reading, PA/Exeter Township) put the Colonels ahead by double digits heading into the break.
 
Eastern used a 15-0 run over the first six minutes of the second half to come all the way back tying the game at 37 with 14:05 on the clock. The Eagles then took the lead on a score from Kevin Reeves one play later to complete the run.
 
Eastern continued to build its lead before buckets from Trent Fisher (Sellersville, PA/Pennridge) and Marshall kept the Colonels within striking distance trailing 56-54 with 3:33 remaining. Two free throws from Robel tied the game at 56, but an Eastern jumper and three-pointer sandwiched in between two free throws from Joey Zvorsky (New Cumberland, PA/Cedar Cliff) put the Eagles ahead 61-58 with 1:10 left in the game.
 
A missed three-pointer by Lesko on Wilkes' ensuing possession forced the Colonels to foul and Eastern connected on two free throws before a turnover ended the hopes of a comeback.
 
Marshall led all Wilkes scorers with 16 points on 7-for-12 shooting including two three-pointers on way to being named to the All-Tournament Team. Fisher followed with 12 points and eight rebounds and was also named to the All-Tournament Team.
 
Jaron Fairweather and Sam Gallardo each scored 13 points to top the Eagles attack.
 
Wilkes returns home Wednesday hosting the University of Scranton at 7:00 p.m. at the Marts Center.