Wilkes Men's Basketball Take Down Scranton 71-58
WILKES-BARRE - The Wilkes University men's basketball team completed their season sweep of the University of Scranton Wednesday night, defeating the Royals 71-58 in Landmark Conference action at the Marts Center.
Wilkes improves to 15-5 on the year with a 9-4 record in Landmark Conference play, while Scranton falls to 10-10 and 5-8 in Landmark play.
The Colonels dominated the opening 20 minutes, pulling out to a 40-20 lead at the break. Lucas Lesko (Northampton, PA/Northampton) led the team in scoring, recording 12 points in the half, followed by Joey Zvorsky (New Cumberland, PA/Cedar Cliff) with eight. Zvorsky also led in rebounds with five, followed by Lesko and Jack Argento (Hershey, PA/Hershey) with four. Cayden Merrifield (Scranton, PA/West Scranton) and Colin Ackerman (Manasquan, NJ/Wall Township) each tallied two assists and Eli Becker (Palmyra, PA/Palmyra) had two steals.
The Royals surged back in the second half, doubling their first half total in the first ten minutes of the second half to the tune of a 24-9 run that brought Scranton within five points. Wilkes found their groove and rallied behind a raucous Marts Center crowd to maintain the lead down the stretch, but the visitors crept closer cutting the lead to four with 3:42 to play after a three-pointer from Tahaj Parland made it a 58-54 game.
Wilkes' defense held the Royals to only four more points from that make, allowing only one more make from the field. On the offensive end of the floor, the Colonels went 7-8 from the free throw line and added a further six points from the field to open the lead back up to double digits and take the win.
Lesko led the Colonels with 22 points and nine rebounds, just one short of a double-double. Merrifield was the only other Colonel in double figures with 14 points and also led the team with six assists. First year Mason Fedor (Clarks Summit, PA/Abington Heights) played a valuable part for the Colonels off the bench grabbing four boards and three assists, both career-highs.
Jon Spatola led the Royals in scoring with 21 points, as well as in rebounds with nine and assists with four. Will McLoughlin recorded 19 points and Parland tallied four assists and a steal for Scranton.
The Colonels travel to face Susquehanna University in their next game on Saturday, February 8. Tip-off is scheduled for 4:00 p.m.
