Mike Constantine hit a trio of three-point field goals to lead Wilkes on a 9-2 run that gave them a 14-6 lead with 14:06 remaining in the first half. After three Brian O’Donnell free throws cut the lead to 14-9, Chris Shovlin scored converted three straight field goal attempts to give the Colonels a 20-9 advantage with 10:20 showing on the clock.
The Colonels would continue to pressure Scranton and eventually built their biggest lead of the game by scoring nine straight tallies. A three-pointer by Shovlin and a basket inside by Evan Walters made it 27-13. John Yanniello followed with two free throws and David Goode ended the run with a thunderous dunk to push the lead to 31-13 with 5:38 remaining in the initial period.
Scranton answered with a 7-1 run to pull within 32-20. Five points by Nick Alfier and two free throws by Randy Arnold provide the spark for the Royals, who eventually trailed 39-29 at intermission.
After seeing the lead trimmed to 48-39 on an O’Donnell three-point play at the 13:26 mark, Wilkes scored eight consecutive points to assume a 56-39 lead. Greg Cardamone started the spurt with a field goal in close and Shovlin ended the run with back-to-back three-pointers.
The Royals responded once again with a 9-2 run of their own to close to within 58-48. Mike McGowan sandwiched a three-pointer and a two-point field goal around a Rashawn Pressley basket to make it 58-44. Randy Arnold converted a layup and O’Donnell hit two free throws to pull Scranton within ten points with 7:15 left.
A free throw by Shovlin with 5:44 left put Wilkes on top 61-48. But, Scranton would rattle off ten straight points to get within 61-58 with 2:32 left. O’Donnell scored inside and Arnold hit two charity tosses to make it 61-52. Another field goal by O’Donnell, a three-pointer by Darren Cannon and a charity toss by Alfier cut the lead to three.
After Yanniello and Cannon traded three-pointers to move the score to 64-61 with 1:46 left, Yanniello converted a three-point play at the 1:25 mark to give Wilkes a 67-61 advantage. Scranton would get within four, 67-63, on two O’Donnell free throws. The Colonels would then hold off the Royals by hitting six free throws in the final 1:11.
Shovlin had a game-high 22 points to go along with five rebounds, three assists and four steals for Wilkes. Yanniello added 15 tallies, while Constantine finished with 14 points. Cardamone hauled in a team-high 10 rebounds, while Evan Walters had six points, six boards and four blocked shots.
O’Donnell cashed in 21 points and grabbed a career-high 19 rebounds for Scranton. Cannon, who had five rebounds, and Arnold, who had four assists and three steals, both contributed ten points.