WILKES-BARRE – Lucas Lesko (Northampton, PA/Northampton) scored a game-high 31 points and grabbed eight rebounds to lead the Wilkes University men's basketball team to a 90-67 victory over Keystone College Saturday afternoon at the Marts Center.
 
Wilkes improved to 6-1 overall following the home non-conference win while Keystone dropped to 3-4 on the year. It marked the second meeting between the two teams this season as the Colonels recorded their second win after a 92-82 overtime win in La. Plume, Pa. on November 13.
 
The teams traded buckets to start the first half before back-to-back scores from Lucas Lesko (Northampton, PA/Northampton) including a dunk put the Colonels ahead 9-7 with 14:51 on the clock. Keystone kept things close before taking its first lead with 10:35 left in the half thanks to a layup from Brandon Scott. Another hoops from Lesko followed by an old-fashioned three-point play from the junior put Wilkes back ahead 18-14 three minutes later. Another quick Keystone run capped off by a three-point play from Daryl Coleman pushed the Giants ahead by one 19-18 with 7:14 remaining. Scores from Mason Fedor (Clarks Summit, PA/Abington Heights) and Daniel Santaniello (Roaring Brook Twp., PA/Scranton Prep) gave Wilkes the advantage back with under two minutes left in the half before a corner trey from Santaniello made it 34-27 Wilkes, its largest lead of the first half. Keystone finished off the frame with a jumper with three seconds left to send the game to the break with Wilkes leading 34-29.
 
The second half proved to be all Wilkes as the Colonels outscored the Giants 56-38 over the final 20 minutes of play. Seven straight points from Lesko including four straight free throws followed by a designed play for three pushed the lead to 48-33 with 16:51 on the clock. The advantage grew to 22 points when Cayden Merrifield (Scranton, PA/West Scranton) knocked down a transition three six minutes later. Lesko closed out his hot night shooting with another layup and three-pointer with 5:21 left in the game which put Wilkes ahead for good up 81-58.
 
Lesko finished 11-for-19 from the floor including 2-of-4 from three-point range. Jack Argento (Hershey, PA/Hershey) followed with a strong performance posting 19 points and seven rebounds. Merrrifield added eight points, six rebounds and three helpers.
 
After shooting just 31.8 percent from the field in the first half, Wilkes exploded with 18 made baskets in the second half shooting over 56.2 percent from the floor. The Colonels also dominated the paint outrebounding Keystone 56-32 including 20 offensive boards.
 
Tyler Fox led all Keystone players with 18 points while Daryl Coleman followed with 16 points and seven boards.
 
The Colonels return to Landmark Conference play Wednesday when they host Lycoming College on Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. at the Marts Center.