WILKES BARRE (PA) – Wilkes University used a 15-0 second half run to come from behind and defeat visiting Delaware Valley University, 58-57, in a Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Freedom showdown on Saturday.

The Aggies came in to today on a two-game win streak, but the loss sets them back to 3-7 in the MAC Freedom and 4-16 overall. The Colonels maintained first place in the conference with a 7-1 mark, 14-5 overall.

The two teams began the afternoon trading baskets before Wilkes went on a 10-4 spurt to take a seven-point lead at 14-7 just over halfway through the opening frame. The Colonels' Tommy Bowen had five points and an assist during that stretch.

Senior Alex Matsinye and freshman Lybrant Robinson powered the Aggies to a 9-2 run over the next 2:20 to tie the score at 16 apiece. A defensive battle ensued the rest of the half, and the game was deadlocked on three more occasions before DelVal scored the final four points of the half, including a tough and-1 by Robinson, to take a 28-24 advantage into the locker room.

Each team shot just a hair above 32-percent for the first 20 minutes with Robinson coming off the bench to score a game-high 12 points for the Aggies.

DelVal started the second half with a 9-2 run through the first five minutes as Robinson capped the spurt with a corner three to give the Aggies their largest lead of the game, 37-26.

The lead grew to 11 on two different occasions, the last at 42-31. Wilkes regained momentum as Bowen converted an and-1 that sparked a 15-0 Colonels run. It was the defensive that keyed the run, forcing DelVal into five turnovers, all of which were converted to points.

Andre Butler stopped the bleeding with a three from the top of the key to bring the Aggies back to within one, 46-45. On the other end, Marcus Robinson connected on a trey to put Wilkes back up by four with 7:54 still to play.   

The Colonels led by three with three minutes to go when Matsinye stuck a corner three to tie the game for the seventh time at 51-51. However, after exchanging baskets, Mason Gross worked an and-1 from the post position and converted to make it 56-53.

With 59 seconds left in regulation, the Aggies defense forced a turnover and the offense took over. Late in the shot clock, Matsinye drove the lane and laid one in for two to make it a one point game and Wilkes ball with 27.6 seconds left.

After each team hit two free-throws, Wilkes' Connor Evans went to the line holding a one point lead and missed the front end of a one-in-one. DelVal grabbed the rebound and raced up the court, but a last second heave fell short and the Colonels held on for the 58-57 victory.

???????DelVal shot 38.2-percent (21-of-55) from the field and 22.2-percent (4-for-18) from three while turning the ball over 20 times. Robinson led all scorers with 19 points on 7-of-14 shooting, plus three steals. Matsinye followed with 17 points to go with six boards and three assists. Washington had a team-high eight rebounds and added eight points and two blocks while Butler finished with seven rebounds and six points.

Wilkes finished the game 39.7-percent from the field (23-of-58) and 28.6-percent (4-for-14) from beyond the arc. Bowen led the team with 14 points and seven rebounds off the bench while Gross and Rob Pecorelli each scored 11 points. Pecorelli added six rebounds and four steals. The team's leading scorer, Robinson, was held to nine points on 4-of-11 shooting.

The Aggies will be back in action on Wednesday, January 31 when it hosts King's College for another MAC Freedom tilt at 8 p.m.