WILKES-BARRE, Pa.– A late rally fell short as Eastern University Men's Basketball fell to the second-seeded Wilkes University Colonels in the opening round of the MAC Freedom Tournament. The Eagles (15-11) trimmed a 16-point second-half deficit to three, but the host Colonels hit free throws down the stretch to pull away to a 79-72 win.
How it Happened:
The Eagles trimmed a five-point halftime deficit to a single point on a
Clifton Adams breakaway lay-up with 18:12 on the clock. The Colonels answered with a 9-to-0 run to lead 48-38 with with fifteen minutes left.
Adams, who scored a career-high 20 points, answered with his third 3-pointer of the game, but it only slowed the run. The Wilkes lead climbed to 71-55 on a transition basket by Tommy Bowen with a little less than seven minutes to play. Bowen, who scored a game-high 22 points, missed the free throw on the play. It was the first free throw the Colonels missed against the Eagles this season.
Off that miss, the Eagles started a rally.
Darius Washington hit a 3-pointer, then after a stop at the other end,
Michael Bowlers scored four points on the next possession after a flagrant foul. The junior post player made a pair of free throws and then dropped in a baby hook to cut the Wilkes lead to nine points.
After the Colonels split a pair of free throws, the teams traded empty possessions before
William Blet made two free throws. Wilkes split another pair of free throws before Bowlers scored back-to-back hoops to close the gap to 73-68.
Wilkes answered with a basket before Blet scored on consecutive possessions to pull the Eagles to within three points with two minutes to play. The Eastern defense held and the Eagles went inside to Bowlers. Bowen went down, and the official signaled a charge.
After a Wilkes timeout, the Colonels ran a back door play for senior guard Marcus Robinson. Blet met Robinson at the basket and blocked the shot with both hands, but the official called a block and Robinson split a pair of free throws for a four-point lead with a minute to play.
Bowlers missed the front end of a one-and-one at the other end and the comeback fell short as the Colonels made their free throws in the final minute.
Adams was 7-for-10 from the floor with three 3-pointers. The junior guard added six rebounds and a pair of assists. Bowlers scored all 14 of his points in the second half. He had a game-high 13 rebounds and five assists. Washington finished with 12 points and Duncan added 11.
Eastern held a commanding 48-25 edge on the glass .
Bowen led the Colonels with 22 points and five assists. Rob Pecorelli had 18 and Mark Mullins added 16.
Coach McNelley Says:
"I am proud of the way our guys competed. To complete a comeback like that, everything has to go right. We did a lot right and had some breaks not go our way down the stretch. To bring that game back to a one-possession game late shows a lot about the character of these guys."
"I loved coaching this group of seniors as they have matured into young men. I am grateful to have had the chance to be part of their lives and am thankful for their contributions to this program. I know that their investment will help the program to continue to grow."
"This was a tough battle between two experienced teams. Congratulations to Coach Metz and his team for a great season."
Wilkes will play int he MAC Freedom Championship Game at DeSales on Saturday.
