WILKES-BARRE, Pa. – The Wilkes men's and women's basketball are set to hit the road for a conference match up against the Blue Jays, with the men's team set for tip-off at 2:00 p.m. and the women following at 4:00 p.m.

Men's: Live Stats | Live Video
Women's: Live Stats | Live Video

Men's Preview

Wilkes enters the contest at 13-9 overall and 8-6 in Landmark Conference play following a 92-82 setback to Drew University on Wednesday night. The Colonels fell behind early as the Rangers found their rhythm from beyond the arc and carried a 51-45 lead into halftime. Wilkes battled back to tie the game early in the second half, but Drew responded with timely shooting down the stretch to secure the victory.

Lucas Lesko (Northampton, PA/Northampton) led the way with a dominant double-double, pouring in 26 points and grabbing 12 rebounds while going a perfect 7-for-7 from the free throw line. Seniors Colin Ackerman (Manasquan, NJ/Wall Township) and Jack Argento (Hershey, PA/Hershey) added 18 and 15 points, respectively. Ackerman dished out a team-high six assists, while Argento shot an efficient 5-of-8 from the field and 5-of-6 at the line. Junior Eli Becker (Palmyra, PA/Palmyra) chipped in 10 points and nine boards.

Lesko continues to anchor the Colonels on both ends of the floor, leading the team with 18.3 points per game (fourth in the Landmark) and 7.6 rebounds per game (third in the conference). Becker (.563) and Argento (.516) rank among the conference's top shooters in field goal percentage.

Wilkes currently sits fifth in the Landmark in both scoring offense (76.9 PPG) and scoring defense (73.1 points allowed per game). The Colonels' .464 team field goal percentage trails only Scranton and Catholic in the conference, while their 38.6 rebounds per game rank third overall behind Drew and Catholic.

Elizabethtown enters the match up at 16-6 overall and 9-6 in Landmark Conference play following a 90-80 win over Juniata on Wednesday night. 

The Blue Jays jumped out to a 12-0 lead just four minutes into the game and shot 44.4% from three-point range compared to the Eagles' 25%. Juniata trimmed the deficit to five in the second half, but Elizabethtown held on to secure the victory.

Three starters scored in double figures, led by Woody Machado's 23 points. Austin Finarelli added 19 and continues to pace the team with 21.5 points per game, ranking second in the conference, while EJ Finney finished with 10 points and ranks second in the Landmark in assists (4.8 per game) and sixth in field goal percentage (.532).

As a team, the Blue Jays rank fourth in the conference in scoring offense (79.9 PPG), sixth in rebounding (36.6 per game), first in turnover margin (4.68), and second in steals per game (9.82).

Women's Preview

Wilkes enters the game at 5-17 overall and 2-13 in Landmark Conference play following a 61-55 loss to Drew on Wednesday night. 

The Colonels battled early, but the Rangers used a 19-7 second-quarter run to take control at halftime. Wilkes outscored Drew in the second half but could not complete the comeback.

Maliyah Warren (Phoenixville, PA/Phoenixville) led the Colonels with 15 points, while first-year Anya Richet (Plymouth, PA/Wyoming Valley West) recorded a double-double with 10 points and a team-high 11 rebounds. Warren paces Wilkes with 12.0 points per game (seventh in the conference), followed closely by Matos at 11.4 per game. Richet anchors the paint with 6.2 rebounds per game (11th in the Landmark) and ranks third on the team in field goal percentage (.383). As a team, Wilkes ranks ninth in scoring (52.0 points per game), third in opponent field goal percentage (.333), and fourth in rebounding (41.1 per game).

Elizabethtown enters at 15-7 overall and 11-4 in conference play after a 63-45 win over Juniata.

The Blue Jays led throughout, building a lead of as many as 19 points in the fourth quarter. Elizabethtown shot 39.4% from the field while holding Juniata to 31.1% and just 6.7% from three-point range.

Makenna Mummert leads the Blue Jays with 16.7 points per game (second in the conference) after scoring 23 on Wednesday. Aliyah Kennedy ranks among the conference leaders with 6.3 rebounds per game and a .470 field goal percentage, leading the team on the glass. As a team, Elizabethtown ranks fourth in scoring offense (67.3), third in field goal percentage (.418) and three-point percentage (.308), and fifth in rebounding (40.6).