ST. DAVIDS, Pa.--Eastern University Men's Basketball fell just short in Wednesday night's Freedom Conference opener, losing 78-76 to the Wilkes University Colonels.

Wilkes' Alec Wizar, the team's leading scorer for the season, only scored 11 points Wednesday but hit the game-winning layup with four seconds remaining.

The Eagles erased a nine-point second-half deficit to tie the game at 74-74 with 1:52 remaining. Eastern junior guard Malcolm Garrison chased down a long rebound on the defensive end and drove all the way to the Eagles' basket where he finished with the game-tying layup.

After Wilkes hit 2-of-4 free throws on the next two possessions to take a 76-74 lead with 1:04 to go, the Eagles responded by coming up with a big defensive stop. Eagles freshman point guard Anthony Concepcion forced Wizar to pick up his dribble and commit a traveling violation right at halfcourt. The turnover by Wizar gave Eastern the ball with 36 seconds to go. After the ensuing Eastern timeout, the Eagles worked the ball around the perimeter until senior Anthony Parenti saw an opportunity to cut to the basket. Parenti kissed a floater off the glass and in to knot the game at 76-76 with 13 seconds remaining.

Wilkes' Wizar, who had committed the costly turnover on the previous possession, redeemed himself by slashing hard down the left side of the key, making the layup and drawing the foul with just four seconds remaining. However, Wizar missed the following free throw and Eastern's Austin James grabbed the rebound and called timeout under the basket. The Eagles had 3.2 seconds to travel the length of the court. Garrison received the inbounds pass near the Wilkes free-throw line and quickly dribbled up court but was unable to launch a shot before time expired.

Garrison led Eastern with 22 points on 8-of-18 shooting and also had six rebounds. The Eagles, who constantly subbed players in and out of the game Wednesday, had a balanced scoring attack with three other players reaching double-figures. Austin James shot 5-for-7, 3-of-4 from three-point land, to finish with 15 points. He led the Eagles with seven rebounds as well. Austin Carroll shot 6-for-14 for 12 points and Anthony Parenti added 11 points on 3-of-5 shooting.

Colonels' junior swingman Steve Stravinski buried six 3-pointers and led all players with 28 points.

Wilkes shot 50.9 percent from the floor and 52.6 percent from the 3-point line but were hampered by Eastern's defensive pressure which forced 23 turnovers. The Eagles scored 24 points directly off those turnovers.

Eastern shot just 38.6 percent from the floor and struggled under the basket. The Eagles missed 21 shots at the rim.

With the loss, the Eagles drop to 2-4 (0-1 Freedom) and are now 2-3 in games decided by six points or fewer. They play the only remaining conference game of the first semester at Delaware Valley College on Saturday at 3 p.m.

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