The victory not only improved the Colonels to 10-9 overall and 2-8 in the conference, it also snapped the team’s seven-game losing skid. Delaware Valley saw their records fall to 4-17 overall and 2-8 in conference play.
The opening eight minutes of the first half were played on virtually even terms. The teams would trade the lead back and forth three times before the Aggies assumed a 12-11 lead on an Isaiah Pinckney basket with 11:24 left in the stanza. However, that would be the last time the Colonels trailed the rest of the way as Kable hit consecutive three-pointers to lift his team to a 17-12 lead with 10:48 showing on the clock.
Delaware Valley would fight back to tie the game at 20-20 on a jumper by Zack Van Dyke with 3:03 left in the stanza. After Kable and Van Dyke traded three-pointers to make it 23-23, Kable scored off a Chris Gulla assist to give Wilkes a 25-23 lead at intermission.
The Colonels would continue to hold a slim lead throughout the first seven minutes of the second period before embarking on a 10-1 spurt. Clinging to a 31-30 lead Kresge would begin the charge with a three-pointer that made it 34-30. Ryan Thomas would answer for Delaware Valley by hitting one-of-two free throws to cut the gap to 34-31. After Steve Kline hit two free throws for Wilkes to make it a 36-31 game, Kable knocked down a three-pointer and Kresge canned a 15-foot jumper to provide the Colonels with a 41-31 lead with 10:25 left.
Bill Gelsomini hit a trifecta for Delaware Valley to pull his team within 41-34. After Wilkes’ John DeFeo scored inside, Pinckney converted a drive to make it 43-36 with 7:42 showing on the clock.
Kable would connect for his fifth three-pointer of the game with 6:39 left to push the lead back to double-figures 46-36. Thanks to some solid free throw shooting by Wilkes, the Aggies were unable to get any closer than seven points the rest of the way, and that did not come until the final minute of play.
The Colonels cashed in on 16-of-22 charity tosses in the final 5:47 with Matt Gould leading the way. Gould scored all eight of his points during the stretch by connecting on 8-of-10 charity tosses.
Kable, who hit 5-of-12 from three-point land, scored is 24 points in 23 minutes of action. Kresge hit 6-of-10 shots from the field, including a pair of three-pointers, while also grabbing eight rebounds. Gulla dished out a team-leading five assists, while Kline snagged a team-best nine rebounds.
Pinckney and Van Dyke tied for team-high honors in scoring for Delaware Valley with 14 tallies apiece. Pinckney also handed out four assists, while Van Dyke had six rebounds and three steals.