CENTER VALLEY, Pa. – The Wilkes University men's basketball team defeated DeSales University by a ­­72-62 final in Center Valley on Wednesday evening to advance to the finals of the Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom tournament. The win is the first playoff victory for the Colonels since 2011-2012, when Wilkes also reached the MAC Freedom Championship.

The Colonels advance to play Delaware Valley University, who defeated Misericordia 68-67 on a buzzer-beater.

Neither team came out sharp, with Wilkes shooting 29 percent (4-14) and DeSales shooting 25 percent (4-16) through the first 10 minutes of the game. Both teams started particularly cold from behind the arc, with the teams combining to hit just two of the first 13 attempts as the Colonels started one for seven and the Bulldogs began shooting one for six.

The Colonels went on the game's first extended run, commencing a 16-0 run spanning a little less than six minutes to give Wilkes a 28-14 lead with 3:17 in the half. The Colonels hit two more three-pointers before entering halftime with a 34-19 lead. Wilkes rebounded to shoot 44 percent (14-32) from the floor.

The Bulldogs started the second half on an 8-2 run before Alec Wizar (Lebanon, PA/Annville Cleona) hit a three to make the score 39-29 with 14:01 on the clock.

Both teams matched shots throughout the next 12 minutes, but the Colonels were able to maintain at least a seven point lead through that time. DeSales was able to cut the Wilkes lead to four at 66-62 with 52 seconds remaining, but the Colonels finished the game on a six-zero run to secure the win 72-62, aided by a key charge taken by Steve Stravinski (Pittston, PA/Pittston).

Wilkes was led by Wizar, who finished with 17 points, four rebounds, and three assists. Marcus Robinson (Swedesboro, N.J./Kingsway Regional) finished with his first career double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds and Connor Evans (Cicero, N.Y./Cicero-North Syracuse) totaled 11 points, four assists, and six rebounds. Clay Basalyga (Clarks Summit, Pa./Abington Heights) added 12 points in 18 minutes off the bench.

DeSales was led by Kuity Slanger, who finished with 18 points, nine rebounds, and four assists. Brian Laird totaled 15 points and three assists for the Bulldogs.

The Colonels return to action on Saturday when they travel to Delaware Valley University for the MAC Freedom Championship at a to-be-determined time.