DOYLESTOWN, Pa. – The Wilkes University men's basketball team fought all the way until the final buzzer, but were defeated in a heartbreaker in the Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom (MAC Freedom) finals by a 75-72 final on Saturday afternoon at Delaware Valley.

Both teams came out shooting well through the first ten minutes, with the Colonels shooting just under 50 percent (8-17) and Delaware Valley shooting at a 50 percent clip (9-18). Delaware Valley, which entered the game with the lowest three-point percentage in the conference, shot 56 percent (5-9) from beyond the arc.

Both teams had a three and a half minute cold streak, with neither team converting a shot from the 10:15 mark until Alec Wizar (Lebanon, PA/Annville Cleona) hit two free throws with 7:43 on the clock to make the score 25-23 Wilkes.

The Colonels had the first extended run of the game, going on a 10-0 run late in the first half to secure a 10 point lead at 35-25 with 3:30 left in the half. Delaware Valley came storming back with an 8-0 run of their own to cut the Wilkes lead to 35-33 with just over two minutes until the half.

The Colonels started the second half on a 9-3 run to take a 47-41 lead with over 15 minutes left in the game, but the Aggies responded with an 10-0 run of their own to take a 51-47 lead with just over 10 minutes to play.

Both teams traded baskets until Delaware Valley extended their lead with a 10-4 run to take a 65-56 lead with 4:41 on the clock. Wilkes started to claw back, cutting the Aggies lead to three at 65-62 following a pair of free throws by Marcus Robinson (Swedesboro, N.J./Kingsway Regional) with 2:46 in the game. The Colonels trimmed it to two points following a three pointer by Steve Stravinski (Pittston, PA/Pittston) to make the score 67-65 with 2:10 on the clock, but the Aggies responded with a 5-0 run to push their lead back to seven at 72-65 with 1:21 on the clock. Stravinski then hit another three pointer and was fouled, converting the four point play to cut the lead to three at 72-69 with 1:10 on the clock.

Wilkes then had to foul, and Delaware Valley was unable to put the Colonels away, allowing Stravinski to come through again, draining a three pointer to cut the Aggies lead to one with six seconds on the clock. Following two Delaware Valley free-throws to give the Aggies a three-point lead, Wilkes was unable to get off a shot, ending the game.

The Colonels were led by Stravinski, who finished with 27 points, and 11 rebounds, hitting eight-of-12 shots from behind the three-point line. Wizar finished with 18 points and six rebounds.

Delaware Valley was led by tournament MVP Chris Moran, who finished with 22 points and five rebounds. Tyliek Kimbrough (18 points, six rebounds) and Zach Sly (15 points) rounded out the starters in double-figures with Alex Mastinye adding 12 points off the bench.