DOYLESTOWN (Pa.) – The Delaware Valley University men's basketball fought until the very end with visiting Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Freedom foe Wilkes University, but ultimately saw the 2022-23 campaign come to an end with a 69-66 setback.

Before the game, the Aggies (12-13, 7-9 MAC Freedom) celebrated the final games of their two seniors Francis Robles-Montas and Ewens Lizima with a special pre-game ceremony.

The Colonels finished the regular season 13-12 overall, 8-8 in MAC Freedom play, and one spot ahead of DelVal at sixth in the league standings.

The Aggie defense got three steals in the first 3:23 and raced out to a 7-0 lead behind four points from Godly Marc. Moments later, Goddy Marc swiped a pass and raced to a layup to make it a 9-2 game.

Wilkes fired back with a 9-0 run to take its first lead of the game behind four points from Trent Fisher. Godly Marc fueled another 6-0 run with two more steals and fast break layups to put the Aggies back on top, 15-11.

Late in the first half, DelVal connected on three straight treys to open up a seven-point lead, but back-to-back layups from the Colonels made it a 34-31 game at the break.

Wilkes opened the second half with an 8-2 run to take a two-point lead. The Colonels controlled play for the first 11 minutes of the second half and used a 10-0 run that spanned just 2:19 to increase their advantage to 11, 56-45, with nine minutes left in regulation.

DelVal slowly clawed back on the back of its defense and outscored Wilkes, 17-6, over the next seven minutes to tie the game at 62-62. Goddy Marc made an impressive reverse layup, driving to the lane, to tie the game. Moments later, Casey Caruso blocked a layup from Fisher at the rim and then fed Jordan Gombs inside for an and-one layup. The foul against Fisher was ruled a flagrant, and sent Gombs to the line for a pair of free throws. He connected on both and gave DelVal a 66-62 lead with 1:32 to play.

Down the other end, Wilkes big man Jason Eberhart hit his first 3-pointer of the season to make it a one-point game with just 48 seconds to play.

The Colonels sent Caruso to the charity stripe for a pair on the next possession, but he failed to convert, and Wilkes had another possession down one. With 25 seconds left, Drake Marshall drove to the rim with his right hand and was fouled. Marshall hit both free throws to put the Colonels back on top by one, 67-66, with 25 seconds to play.

The Aggies called timeout with 21 seconds to play and drew up a play to get Caruso an open look from beyond the arc. Caruso's shot caromed off the front of the rim and Wilkes hit two more free throws down the other end to seal the 69-66 victory.

DelVal had 17 steals as a team, led by six from Godly Marc who added 12 points. Save led the team with 18 points and Gombs finished with 10, five rebounds, five assists, and a steal. Robles-Montas added three steals and five points, and Goddy Marc scored nine. Lizima grabbed six boards and dished out three assists with four points and two steals.

Fisher and Marshall each scored 24 to lead all players. Fisher added 18 rebounds, six blocked shots and a steal.