WARRIORS FALL SHORT OF COLONELS

WILLIAMSPORT, PA – The Lycoming College men’s basketball team hosted Freedom Conference rival and nationally ranked Wilkes University, Tuesday evening. The Warriors gave the Colonels all that they could handle but came up just shy of a come-from-behind victory, falling 80-77.

After trading the leads through the opening minutes of the game, Wilkes drew first blood, pulling out to a six-point advantage following a 9-1 run. Lycoming battled their way back to even midway through the period only to have the Colonels go on another run. Over a six-minute span, Wilkes outscored the Warriors 22-6 behind the play of All-American guard Dave Jannuzzi and freshman Dave Plisko. The offensive outburst gave the Colonels a 52-37 edge at the half.

Wilkes maintained its advantage for the first five minutes of the second half, before Lycoming finally went on a run of their own. Thomas Wesner (So./Dillsburg; Northern Senior) started the 15-1 spurt with back-to-back three pointers. Chris Napier (Jr./Port Jervis, NY; Minisink Valley) completed the run with a triple that pulled the Warriors within two with almost 12 minutes to play.

Lycoming would get within a point of the Colonels, but could not pull into the lead as Wilkes hit big free throws and came up with timely defensive stops. The Warriors did have two opportunities to tie the game in the final 11 seconds, as both Napier and Brian Lindsay (Sr./Gettysburg; Gettysburg) attempted shots from beyond the arc. Both attempts failed, however, giving the Colonels the three-point victory.

Napier was the Warriors’ leading scorer with 21 points. He also grabbed seven rebounds. Wesner added 18 points, six assists and four steals. Senior David Ganisin (Endicott, NY; Union Endicott) led the team with nine rebounds, while scoring 16 points.

Jannuzzi was the game’s top scorer with 26 points – 18 coming in the first half. Kevin Walsh was the Colonels’ leading rebounder with nine boards. 

The victory improves Wilkes’ record to 18-2 overall and 10-1 within the Freedom Conference, virtually assuring them of the top seed in the conference tournament. Lycoming drops to 10-11 overall and 5-6 within the conference. The Warriors currently hold the fourth and final playoff spot.

Lycoming will travel to Delaware Valley College on Saturday, February 10 for another conference match-up.