Box Score

WILKES-BARRE, Pa. - Wilkes used a big first-half run and Chris DeRojas' 30 points to deal Lebanon Valley its seventh straight loss, 71-65, in non-league play Monday.

The Dutchmen (6-11, 2-5 CC) nearly overcame a 21-point first-half deficit with a big run late in the half, but ultimately couldn't catch up to the Colonels (11-7, 2-5 Freedom), who drained eight three-pointers and went 19-of-25 at the line.

Zach Kebetz had a career-high 16 points, including four three's, and Joe Meehan led LVC with 22 points and seven assists. Dan Dunkelberger finished with eight points and 11 boards.

Anthony Gabriel complemented DeRojas' big night with 14 points for the Colonels. DeRojas connected on 11 of 15 shots and went 6-for-8 from the outside.

The Colonels jumped out to a huge early lead with a 25-4 run to start the game as LVC went ice-cold to start. By the time Meehan hit a jumper to stop the bleeding with 8:50 left in the first, Wilkes had built a 19-point lead.

But the Dutchmen countered back with their own big run, outscoring Wilkes 23-9 for the rest of the period to go into the break down just seven at 34-27.

Wilkes quickly built the lead back up to 10 to start the second half, and LVC never got closer than four points when Kebetz drained a shot with 9:27 remaining. The Colonels hit a late 6-0 spurt to cement the lead, and DeRojas' final three-pointer with 18 seconds turned a five-point lead into eight in the final seconds to end any hope of a miracle finish for LVC.

The Dutchmen visit FDU-Florham on Wednesday.