Wilkes took the early lead in the game, carrying a 14-13 edge with 8:30 left in the first half. The first ten minutes of the game were played crisply; both sides played solid defense and made difficult shots as the game was shaping up to be a well-played if not high-scoring affair. Just after the eight minute mark, Bob Carella hit a long three to give Drew its second lead of the game, 16-14. Carella scored the Rangers’ next five points to offset a pair of free throws by Gabriel. Steve Kline scored off a Matt Gould assist with four minutes remaining to bring the score to 21-18, but Drew finished the half on an 8-2 run to enter the break up, 29-20.
The Rangers opened the second half by continuing the run. Damon DiLorenzo scored on a lay-up after Bob Carella’s steal to give Drew a 35-21 lead with four minutes gone in the half. The Colonels began what would be the first of a number of thwarted rallies with a Tom Kresge lay-up with just over 15 left. Wilkes scored the next four points to bring the lead back to single digits, but Bill Marano hit a long three from the corner as the shot clock expired to put Drew back up by 11. The game got physical in the second half and the Rangers capitalized by hitting their free throws, including six in the next two minutes of play to maintain a 12 point edge. Another mini-run by the Colonels brought the game back to 44-40 on a Jeremy Kable three. This time it was Chris Lopez who hit a three to end a Wilkes threat as he converted a Marano assist at 6:13.
Though the Rangers wouldn’t score from the field again until David Cramer’s key fast break lay-up with 1:03 left, Drew made that seven point lead stand by continuing their success from the line while Wilkes struggled to convert their foul shots. Cramer’s easy hoop off a DiLorenzo assist gave Drew a 55-46 advantage. Three more Rangers free throws off-set Steve Kline’s three pointer and Drew picked up its second conference win of the season, 58-49.
Drew will travel to face King’s and Scranton next weekend as they continue their conference schedule.
Newspaper Box Score Wilkes Colonels vs Drew Rangers 01/20/07 3:00 pm at Baldwin Gym At Baldwin Gym DREW RANGERS 58, WILKES COLONELS 49 WILKES COLONELS (9-6, 1-5) Anthony Gabriel 3-5 2-2 10; Tom Kresge 4-12 2-3 10; Steve Kline 3-6 2-4 9; Jeremy Kable 3-10 0-2 9; Matt Gould 3-9 1-2 7; Dan Adams 1-3 0-0 2; John DeFeo 1-1 0-1 2; Chris Gulla 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 18-48 7-14 49. DREW RANGERS (6-9, 2-4) Chris Lopez 4-13 4-6 14; David Cramer 4-6 5-6 13; Bob Carella 3-9 1-2 9; Damon DiLorenzo 3-7 1-2 8; Scott Miller 1-1 5-6 7; Bill Marano 1-2 4-6 7; Nelson Albino 0-1 0-0 0; Gerard Mullin 0-5 0-0 0; Dave Pepperman 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 16-45 20-28 58. Wilkes Colonels............... 20 29 - 49 Drew Rangers.................. 29 29 - 58 3-point goals-Wilkes Colonels 6-22 (Jeremy Kable 3-8; Anthony Gabriel 2-3; Steve Kline 1-3; Chris Gulla 0-1; Matt Gould 0-4; Tom Kresge 0-3), Drew Rangers 6-20 (Bob Carella 2-7; Chris Lopez 2-5; Damon DiLorenzo 1-1; Bill Marano 1-2; Nelson Albino 0-1; Gerard Mullin 0-4). Fouled out--Wilkes Colonels-Matt Gould, Drew Rangers-None. Rebounds-Wilkes Colonels 35 (Tom Kresge 9), Drew Rangers 29 (Damon DiLorenzo 8). Assists-Wilkes Colonels 7 (Matt Gould 6), Drew Rangers 7 (Scott Miller 2; Chris Lopez 2). Total fouls-Wilkes Colonels 22, Drew Rangers 16. A-220