ANNVILLE, Pa. – Evan Smith led a valiant second-half comeback effort for the Lebanon Valley men's basketball team in a 62-51 defeat to visiting Wilkes University on Wednesday evening in front of a large crowd at Sorrentino Gymnasium in the team's first home game of the year.
 
The Dutchmen fought back from a 37-14 halftime deficit and outscored the Colonels 37-25 over the final 20 minutes. Smith led the charge as he knocked down a trio of three pointers during a five minute-span where LVC cut the lead in half from 18 points down to nine.
 
Wilkes (2-0) jumped out to a 5-1 lead over the first four minutes of the game. LVC (0-4) received buckets in the paint from Evin Timochenko and Luis Garcia to cut the lead down to 8-5. The Colonels countered with a 6-0 run to take a nine-point lead. Kyle Tang stopped the run with a brilliant steal at midcourt and an easy layup. Wilkes was able to build their lead up to 18 points at 26-8 with just over six minutes to go in the half behind a 12-1 run. The Dutchmen got out in transition and were able to score on a couple of fastbreaks to bring the score to 27-12 before Wilkes used a pair of threes and two jumpers to take a 23-point halftime lead.
 
The Dutchmen came out strong in the second half as Ryan Harder and Timonchenko scored buckets in the paint before Tang found harder open for a three to bring the lead down to 18. Wilkes was able to bring the advantage back up to 22 before LVC used an 11-0 run capped off by a Harder three and then a Harder jumper with 13:17 on the clock. Wilkes responded with the next seven points to take a 50-32 lead forcing the Dutchmen to call a timeout with 10:34 left. Smith knocked down his first three pointer off a nice pass from Tang. He then knocked down another three a few possessions later off a cross court pass by Jevon Griffin. The junior sent the crowd into a frenzy a couple minutes later as he knocked down his third three to bring LVC within single digits.
 
The Colonels were able to get the lead back up to 13 before Smith hit a pair of free throws and then scored on a fastbreak layup off a pass from Timochenko. Tang started the play with a great steal on the wing, He gave the ball to Timochenko who passed it up to Smith for the score. Tang got the Dutchmen within seven after a steal and bucket with 1:31 left but that was as close as LVC was able to get as the Colonels closed out the scoring at the line.
 
Inside the Box

• Smith finished with 13 points and four rebounds. He was 3-6 from beyond the arc with all 13 of his points coming in the second half.
• Harder led the team in scoring with 14 points and seven rebounds. He knocked down a pair of threes and scored 12 second half points.
• Tang filled the stat sheet with eight points, six steals, four assists, and two rebounds.
• Timochenko had 10 rebounds and six points.
• Garcia had eight points and five rebounds with two assists.
• The Dutchmen forced 21 Wilkes turnovers including 14 in the second half while only committing 14.

Up Next
LVC will be back in Sorrentino Gymnasium on Saturday afternoon for a 2 p.m. tip-off against Juniata College.

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