WILKES-BARRE – The Wilkes University men's basketball team opened the season in the win column with a 86-77 victory over Rowan University at the Marts Center on Sunday afternoon.

Colin Ackerman (Manasquan, NJ/Wall Township) put up the first points of the season, but the visiting Profs would be the first to hold a multiple-possession lead going up 7-3 early. An Ackerman triple and a fastbreak score by Eli Becker (Palmyra, PA/Palmyra) gave the Colonels their first lead 9-8, growing the lead to 18-11 seven minutes into the first half.

Rowan then went on a 13-0 run over the next 4.5 minutes to take the lead back and hold a 24-18 advantage. An Ackerman layup on the fast break got the Colonel offense hot again, followed by triples from Becker and Lucas Lesko (Northampton, PA/Northampton) to bring both teams level at 26 with six minutes remaining. A layup by Jack Argento (Hershey, PA/Hershey) gave Wilkes the lead back a minute later 28-27.

The Colonels closed the half hot, outscoring the Profs 8-5 to take a 36-32 lead into halftime, and continued that momentum out of the break with a 9-0 run to grow the lead to 45-32. Wilkes remained in firm control for the first 10 minutes of the period, with their lead growing to as many as 19 points up 60-41. Becker led the stretch with nine points.

Rowan stormed back into the game, cutting the lead to two possessions over the next six minutes with a 21-8 scoring run to make it a 68-62 game. Consecutive threes from Becker and Daniel Santaniello (Roaring Brook Twp., PA/Scranton Prep) put Wilkes back up double digits, but the Profs continued to fight into the final minute of play.

Poise from the free-throw line saw the Colonels to victory, going 10-12 from the stripe in the last minute of play to take the 86-77 win.

Four Colonels finished with double-figure scoring, led by Lesko with a 19-point double-double. Ackerman and Santaniello finished with 18, while Becker posted 17. Becker also completed a double-double with a team-high 11 rebounds, followed by Lesko with 10. Ackerman led the team with six assists.

Brycen Williams led Rowan with 20 points, while Taz Cantey led the team on the glass with five boards. Cantey also led the team with six assists.

The Colonels return to action on Tuesday, November 11^th as they host cross-town rival King's College at the Marts Center. Tip off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.