CENTER VALLEY, PA – The Wilkes University men's basketball team played a tight contest throughout eventually falling 71-67 as the Colonels battled in a Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom (MAC Freedom) loss at Billera Hall Gymnasium Wednesday night to DeSales University.

Wilkes dropped to 5-4 overall 1-1 MAC Freedom with the road loss. DeSales improved to 6-2 overall and remained perfect at 3-0 in the MAC Freedom.

The Bulldogs gained a 6-2 lead over the first three-and-a-half minutes of action to begin the game before Matthew Davidheiser (Reading, PA/Exeter Township) connected from three to pull the Colonels back within one point with 16:22 left in the first half. With the score standing at 9-5 DeSales, Wilkes used a hook shot from Trent Fisher (Sellersville, PA/Pennridge), three consecutive layups by Drake Marshall (Gainesville, VA/Patriot) and a layup from Jake Robel (Middlesex, NJ/Middlesex) to go on a 10-0 run and gain the 15-9 lead with 12:06 on the first half clock.

DeSales regained the lead with an 18-6 run over the eight minutes of action to hold a 27-21 edge. Fisher made a driving layup and then made a steal and scored inside again to make it 27-25. Ryan Boylan converted a three-point play with six seconds left in the first half to send the hosts to the locker room ahead 30-25. Fisher led Wilkes with 10 first half points.

Davidheiser started the second half strong as he drilled back-to-back threes to put the Colonels ahead 31-30. The two sides began to trade baskets with a Marshall step-back jumper putting the Colonels ahead 39-38 with 15:18 on the clock. DeSales scored the next five points on two free throws and a three to go back ahead 43-39. Jack Argento (Hershey, PA/Hershey) then made good on three free throws after he was fouled shooting from distance as the first year player pulled the Colonels back to within one at 43-42.

As the second half hit the midway point the Bulldogs worked their way to their largest lead of the game to that point at seven with a 54-47 advantage. Argento and Cayden Merrifield (Scranton, PA/West Scranton) three pointers kept Wilkes in touch over the next several minutes as the Navy and Gold trailed 58-55 with 6:04 left. DeSales continued to make the necessary plays to stay ahead as Joey Zvorsky (New Cumberland, PA/Cedar Cliff) hit from distance to make it 63-60 with 3:33 remaining as Wilkes looked to make a final push for the lead.

Argento hit another three to tie the game at 63-63 following a Wilkes timeout. Two Nate Ellis free throws with 2:05 left gave DeSales the 65-63 lead and then Devin Atkinson hit a three with 1:31 left on the next possession for the Bulldogs to make it 68-63. Following a timeout Wilkes missed a three but got the rebound and Zvorsky made two free throws as the score stood at 68-65 with 1:06 left. DeSales went 3-for-6 from the line down the stretch and the Colonels were only able to make a layup with seven seconds left to provide the 71-67 victory.

Marshall led the Colonels with 14 points and Fisher followed with 12. Both players shot 6-for-11 from the field in the game. Davidheiser added 11 points and Zvorsky and Argento had nine each. Merrifield scored eight points in the second half and Robel added the remaining four for the Colonels total. Fisher led Wilkes with eight rebounds while Zvorsky had six. Fisher and Zvorsky tied for the lead with four assists.

Elijah Eberly led DeSales with a game-high 19 points as he was 9-for-12 from the field. Jordan Holmqvist added 15 and Atkinson 12 to also finish in double figures for the Bulldogs. Eberly also had a game-high 11 rebounds for the double-double.

Wilkes shot well throughout, finishing 25-for-50 from the field and 8-for-16 from three. The Colonels were 9-for-11 from the free-throw line. DeSales shot 23-for-50 from the field, 7-for-18 from three, and 18-for-24 from the line. Wilkes led 32-30 in points in the paint, while DeSales led 27-25 in rebounding and had only 13 turnovers compared to 17 for Wilkes.

The Colonels return to the Marts Center and welcome FDU-Florham for a MAC Freedom game on Saturday at 3:00 p.m.