WILKES-BARRE – Four players reached double figures in the scoring column as the Wilkes University men's basketball team defeated Penn State Wilkes-Barre 68-55 in non-conference action Monday evening at the Marts Center.

Wilkes improved to 7-4 overall and are now winners of five of its past six games. Penn State Wilkes-Barre dropped to 9-3 overall.

The Colonels trailed 6-5 following the first three minutes of action. An 8-0 run for Wilkes pushed the home side ahead 13-6 with 13:33 on the first half clock following a Drake Marshall (Gainesville, VA/Patriot) driving layup and three pointer and a Cayden Merrifield (Scranton, PA/West Scranton) three.

The Nittany Lions closed the lead to one at 17-16 over the next three minutes before the Colonels defense stiffened the remainder of the half. That allowed the Colonels to finish the half on a 17-2 run to lead 34-18. Jason Eberhart (Lebanon, PA/Cedar Crest) had six points during the run for Wilkes and was strong on the glass as well.

Penn State Wilkes-Barre came out in the second half with the press and forced four turnovers by the Colonels, capitalizing to cut the lead to 34-24 in the first 1:15 of action. Merrifield scored the first points for Wilkes in the half and Marshall followed with a jumper on the next possession to make it 38-24.

Matthew Davidheiser (Reading, PA/Exeter Township) drilled a three to increase the Colonels lead to 43-28 with 15:23 remaining. The Nittany Lions earned the next five points to cut the lead to 10. An Eberhart conversion in the paint and Davidheriser three got the Wilkes offense going again and following a Lucas Lesko (Northampton, PA/Northampton) three with 9:26 left the Colonels led by 19 points at 56-37.

The visitors began to chip into the lead with a 9-2 run over the next two minutes of action to make the score 58-46. Wilkes stopped the run by going 3-for-4 from the free throw line including two makes from Joey Zvorsky (New Cumberland, PA/Cedar Cliff). Merrifield then hit a three to make it 64-46 with 5:41 left as the 18 point lead was too large for Penn State Wilkes-Barre to overcome, only closing to within 13 points.

Eberhart, in his first start of the season, recorded his first career double-double with career highs of 11 points and 13 rebounds. Marshall finished with a game-high 15 points and added eight rebounds. Davidheiser scored 12 points on 5-for-7 shooting and Merrifield had 11 points, including going 3-for-3 from beyond the arc and had a game-high four assists. Zvorsky added seven points, five rebounds, three assists, two blocks, and two steals.

Marc Emile had 10 points to lead Penn State Wilkes-Barre while Jaymes Jackson added eight points and eight rebounds.

Wilkes shot 51.1% from the field (24-for-47) and 53.3% from three (8-for-15). The Colonels were 92.3% at the free throw line (12-for-13). Penn State Wilkes-Barre shot 37.3% from the field (22-for-59), 24.0% from three (6-for-25), and 62.5% from the line (5-for-8). Wilkes held a 34-28 edge on the glass and forced 21 turnovers.

Wilkes looks to keep their solid play going tomorrow at Keystone College for a non-conference game, with tip scheduled for 3:00 p.m.