The Colonels, who snapped a four-game losing streak with the victory, improve to 12-8 overall and 8-4 in conference play. FDU-Florham sees their records slip to 5-18 overall and 2-10 in the conference.
Wilkes would jump out to a 7-5 lead early in the contest. The Colonels then went on a 10-2 run to assume a 17-7 advantage. Greg Cardamone and Evan Walters converted consecutive field goals to up the lead to 11-5. A three-pointer by Drew Amoroso extended the gap to 14-5. After Pierre Schmitt canned a jumper for the Devils, Michael Constantine drained a three-pointer to make it 17-7 with 14:58 left in the opening half.
FDU-Florham would close the gap to 24-18 with 8:39 showing on the clock on a three-pointer by Andrew Biancosino. Wilkes would again stretch the lead to double-figures on a Constantine basket that made it 33-23 with 5:11 left in the half.
The Colonels held their biggest lead of the opening stanza following a Constantine three-pointer that made it 40-25 with 1:17 to go. A three-pointer by FDU-Florham’s Cody Chalmers at the 59 second mark would close out the first half scoring and Wilkes held a 40-28 lead at intermission.
John Sclafani would, for all intents and purposes, put the game away for Wilkes in the opening three minutes of the second half. The senior guard came up with a steal and layup to make it 42-28. He then knocked down a three-pointer to up the margin to 45-28. Sclafani would then cap his personal 7-0 run by hitting two free throws at the 17:19 mark that made it 47-28.
FDU-Florham would close to within 47-33 at the 16:47 mark on a pair of Brian Dillon charity tosses. But, that is as close as the Devils would get. The Colonels gradually built on their lead and took their largest advantage, 81-50 on a Sclafani three-pointer with 3:57 showing on the clock.
Constantine led five Wilkes players in double-figures with 16 points. Sclafani enjoyed a solid outing with 15 points, six rebounds and three assists. Cardamone had a career-high 14 points, while also contributing six rebounds. Dan Adams added 11 points and six boards, while Evan Walters finished the day with 10 points, six rebounds, four assists and four blocked shots.
FDU-Florham was led by Pierre Schmitt’s 12 points and six rebounds. Both James McClendon and Ryan McPherson had 10 tallies.