WILKES BARRE, Pa.-- There was an eerie sense of deja vu as the Eastern University Men's basketball team pulled into Wilkes Barre for the second straight Wednesday night. As they did against King's last week, the Eagles struggled from the floor early, fell into an early, deficit, and were never able to make the game close in a 73-53 Freedom Conference loss at Wilkes. The loss is the fifth straight for the Eagles.

Though they scored just nine points through the opening ten minutes, the Eagles were within striking distance trailing 16-9. Don Kaiser scored on a tip-in to close the gap to five just after the midway point, and things looked as though they might be improving for the Eastern men. The truth in fact, was that things would get worse. 

As they had struggled to score inside early, the Eagles began to settle for perimeter looks and they managed just a single point over a six and a half minute stretch. When Justin McClelland finally scored in transition off a steal, Wilkes led 27-14. The Eagles hit some shots down the stretch to close out the half, but in the effort to bring tempo to the game, the Eastern defense allowed more baskets as well and Wilkes led by 16 at the intermission.

There would be no miracle comeback in the second half. The Colonels kept the Eagles off the glass and off the foul line and were able to get the ball inside against the smaller Eastern line-ups. First year center Ben deWaal Malefyt provided a lone bright spot with 6 points and three rebounds in limited minutes in the second half.

Matt Mullins led four players in double-figures for the Colonels with 17 points. Mike Donatoni led the Eagles, who shot 31% for the game, with eight.

While the loss does not mathematically eliminate the Eagles (11-10, 4-7) from the playoff picture, the scenarios where a post-season appearance could happen are becoming increasingly unlikely. They will travel to Manhattanville College this Saturday.