WILKES-BARRE – The Wilkes men's basketball team were bested by Goucher College 76-55 in the final game of the regular season, as the Colonels celebrated Senior Day at the Marts Center.

The Colonels wrap up the year with an 18-7 overall record and an 11-7 record in conference play, giving them the fourth seed in the Landmark Conference playoffs. Goucher improved on the day to 10-15 on the year and 8-10 in Landmark play.

The Gophers took advantage of a slow Colonel start, stretching an early 9-1 lead forcing four Colonel turnovers. Cayden Merrifield (Scranton, PA/West Scranton) hit the first Colonel field goal of the game to make it 9-3, and stopped a 7-0 run with a three-pointer to make it a 16-6 game with 12 minutes to play in the first half.

Goucher maintained a double-digit lead for the rest of the half, taking a 38-27 lead into halftime. Jason Eberhart (Lebanon, PA/Cedar Crest) gave the Colonels positive momentum with a drive to the cup in the final seconds of the half that earned a foul, turning into a three-point play with a made free throw.

Wilkes' offense came alive to start the second half, cutting the defecit to three with a 10-2 run to make it a 40-37 game thanks to six points from Lucas Lesko (Northampton, PA/Northampton). Unfortunately for the Colonel faithful in attendance, the Gophers held off the comeback and grew the lead to over 20 points as they cruised to a victory at the Marts Center 76-55.

Merrifield led the Colonels with 15 points, while Lesko was the other Colonel in double-digits adding 12 points. Trent Fisher (Sellersville, PA/Pennridge) led the team with 9 rebounds, and five players shared the team-high in assists with two.

Jacob Morgan led Goucher with 21 points, Darrell Green and Brandon Joseph both finished with a team-high seven rebounds, while Jaden Workman led in assists with four.

Prior to the game, Wilkes honored the team's five senior student-athletes Matthew Davidheiser (Reading, PA/Exeter Township), Zachary Gula (Walnutport, PA/Northampton), Joey Zvorsky (New Cumberland, PA/Cedar Cliff), Fisher, and Eberhart.

The Colonels shift their focus now to the first round of the Landmark Conference playoffs, when they host Juniata College at the Marts Center on Tuesday, February 20 at 7:00 p.m.