Box Score Men's Basketball
Wilkes 82, Lebanon Valley 74

WILKES-BARRE, Pa. - Lebanon Valley couldn't stop a hot-shooting Wilkes team as their comeback try fell short in an 82-74 loss in non-conference play Monday night.

The Dutchmen (5-3), playing without leading scorer Danny Brooks, couldn't overcome a 59.4 percent first-half shooting clip by the Colonels (6-1) as Wilkes pulled away for a 47-34 halftime lead before holding off a second-half LVC rally.

Joe Meehan had a team-high 22 points with four assists, and Jordan Stewart scored 17. Cameron prince scored 12 with seven rebounds. LVC picked off 12 steals, including three each by Meehan, Stewart, and David Corbin, who earned his second start of the season.

Paul Huch (22 points, 10 rebounds) and Kendall Kinze (15 points, 10 rebounds) led the Colonels with double-doubles. Wilkes shot 18-for-19 at the line.

The game was tied at the midpoint of the first half, but Wilkes embarked on an 11-0 run to take control of the game, extending the advantage to 13 at 47-34 at halftime.

LVC rallied in the second with a 9-0 run early that included consecutive three-pointers by Matt O'Brien and Stewart to pull within four. A three-point play by Meehan at the 7:23 mark cut the lead to three. Wilkes quickly re-established a two-possession lead and held it there, but LVC's last-ditch effort nearly pulled off the upset.

Trailing 74-70 with 1:30 left, Stewart was fouled and made both shots to make it a two-point game at 1:14 left. Wilkes' Jourdan Wilson hit a pair at the other end to go back up 76-72, but LVC couldn't convert their next chance and was forced to foul, allowing Wilkes to go up six inside 30 seconds left and ice the game with perfect 8-for-8 foul shooting in the final minute.

LVC returns home Wednesday night to host Lancaster Bible at 7:30 p.m.