WILKES-BARRE – The Wilkes University men's basketball team picked up their second Landmark Conference victory of the week after grinding out a hard-fought win over Juniata College at the Marts Center on Saturday, 65-54.

Wilkes improves to 14-5 on the year with an 8-4 record in Landmark play, while Juniata fall to 0-19 on the year with an 0-12 record in conference play.

The Colonels took the early lead with a 10-5 run to start the game, before the Eagles fired up for a 16-4 run to take a 21-14 lead before a Colonel timeout with 8:44 to play in the first. Wilkes chipped away at the lead over the next few minutes, taking it back on a layup by Joey Zvorsky (New Cumberland, PA/Cedar Cliff) to make the score 24-23 in favor of the hosts. Wilkes then pulled out on a 12-6 run to take a 36-29 lead into halftime.

The Colonels pulled the lead to double digits in the second half, starting off with a 10-4 run with four points each from Zvorsky and Lucas Lesko (Northampton, PA/Northampton). Juniata wouldn't let the Colonels truly pull away, capitalizing on turnovers to not allow the Colonels a lead of more than 14, dipping back into a single-digit deficit with five minutes remaining, 59-51. Wilkes held tough, however, making shots down the stretch to take the victory on Alumni Day, 65-54.

The Colonels shot 50% from the field and were perfect from the free throw line, making all 15 shots from the stripe on the day.

Lesko led the team with 17 points and eight assists, one of four Colonels with double-digit scoring. Argento posted his second double-double of the season with 14 points and a team-high 10 rebounds. Cayden Merrifield (Scranton, PA/West Scranton) (14) and Zvorsky (10) were the other two Colonels to reach double-digits.

The Colonels return home for their next contest on Wednesday, February 5 against the University of Scranton at 8:00 p.m.