WILKES-BARRE -- Eli Becker (Palmyra, PA/Palmyra) poured in a career-high 24 points to lead the Wilkes University men's basketball team to an 87-57 Landmark Conference victory over visiting Elizabethtown College Saturday afternoon at the Marts Center.
 
Wilkes improved to 17-6 overall and 11-5 in conference games following its seventh home win of the season. Elizabethtown dropped to 9-14 overall and 6-10 in league play.
 
It was a tale of two halves as Wilkes led by ten at the break, but outscored the Blue Jays 50-30 over the second half of play.
 
The Colonels raced out to a 13-1 lead over the first four minutes thanks to hot shooting from long range as Becker, Cayden Merrifield (Scranton, PA/West Scranton) and Joey Zvorsky (New Cumberland, PA/Cedar Cliff) all canned threes in the span. Elizabethtown trimmed the Wilkes lead to three midway through the half, but the Colonels ended the frame on a 8-2 run capped by back-to-back buckets from Lucas Lesko (Northampton, PA/Northampton) and Becker to take a 37-27 advantage at the half.
 
The lead grew to 19 points seven minutes into the second half as Becker tipped in a miss and Colin Ackerman (Manasquan, NJ/Wall Township) added a transition score as Wilkes led 58-39 with 13:17 remaining. Lesko powered home a dunk on the break and Daniel Santaniello (Roaring Brook Twp., PA/Scranton Prep) drilled a three-pointer to keep the Colonels ahead 70-46 with 9:03 left in the game. Merrifield continued his hot shooting with a bucket followed by back-to-back layups from Issac Thomas (Schuylkill Haven, PA/Blue Mountain) and Brendan Styer (Chesterbrook, PA/Conestoga) to give the Colonels its largest lead of the game up 30 points.
 
Beck was outstanding offensively throughout the game finishing 10-for-14 from the floor, 2-for-3 from three and 2-for-2 from the line. He added nine rebounds, barely missing a double-double. Merrifield followed with 20 points including four three-pointers and added six rebounds and three helpers. Lesko rounded out the double figure scorers with 10 points and eight boards.
 
Austin Finarelli topped Elizabethtown with 17 points and nine rebounds in the road defeat.
 
Merrifield, the Colonels lone senior, was honored prior to tipoff of the game as part of the senior day ceremonies.
 
Wilkes continues Landmark Conference play Wednesday with an important matchup at Moravian University scheduled for 7:00 p.m. in Bethlehem, Pa.