SALEM, Va. – The Wilkes University men's basketball team finished as runners-up in the Cregger Invitational Tuesday afternoon, falling to No. 13 Roanoke College 81-54 at the Cregger Center.

Wilkes closes the 2025 calendar year at 6-4 overall, while Roanoke improves to 8-3 on the year.

The Colonels matched the Maroons shot for shot over the first stretch of the game, as Eli Becker's (Palmyra, PA/Palmyra) jumper made it a 10-10 game early in the first half. Roanoke's offense exploded for a 24-6 run to take a commanding lead 34-16 halfway through the first. Lucas Lesko (Northampton, PA/Northampton), Colin Ackerman (Manasquan, NJ/Wall Township), and Becker all hit from beyond the arc in the final ten minutes, but Roanoke maintained a 50-32 advantage going into halftime.

Lesko started the second half with another trey, kicking off a 7-3 run for the Colonels, but a five-minute dry spell for the Wilkes offense allowed the Maroons to stretch out to a 62-39 lead with 12:55 to play. The hosts would not relinquish their lead the rest of the way, taking the 81-54 win and claiming the Cregger Invitational.

Lesko led the way for the Colonels with 16 points, eight rebounds and three assists, all team-highs. Becker was the other Colonel to reach double figures, scoring 11. Becker and Jack Argento (Hershey, PA/Hershey) were named to the All-Tournament team.

Jackson Bell led Roanoke with 30 points, while Patrick Clevenger and Porter Stanley shared a team-high seven rebounds. Ryan Truitt led the team with three assists.

Wilkes returns to the Keystone State on Saturday, January 3^rd as they host Muhlenberg College for their first contest of the new year. Tip-off is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.