WILKES-BARRE, Pa. – Separating itself with 16 points in a seven-minute span of the second half while allowing just two field goals, the regionally-ranked Lycoming College men's basketball team posted a 70-56 MAC Freedom win over Wilkes University on Wednesday night, Feb. 9, at the Arnaud Marts Sports Complex.
 
With the game tied at 39 with 13:49 left, the Warriors took the lead off a mid-range jumper from sophomore Steven Hamilton (Phoenixville, Pa./Phoenixville Area), who led the Warriors (14-8 overall, 9-4 MAC Freedom) with 22 points. The jumper was followed with a 3-pointer from senior Matt Ilodigwe (Wilmington, Del./Concord), who responded to a Wilkes dunk with another trifecta to make it 47-41 with 12:11 and starting a run of nine straight points. After Wilkes' next field goal, the Warriors capped a 16-4 run with a layup inside from sophomore Mavin James (Danville, Pa./Danville Area) that made it 59-45 with 6:05 left.
 
A James 3-pointer with 5:05 left got the lead to a game-high 17 points before Wilkes closed within eight with 2:46 left. The Warriors scored the last six points, though, to walk away with the 14-point win.
 
Along with Hamilton's 22 points off 9-of-11 shooting, he posted six rebounds and four assists. Junior Dyson Harward (Danville, Pa./Danville Area) added 14 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks for his 13^th double-double of the year. James posted 11 points, hitting all five of his field goal attempts. Ilodigwe finished with nine points and junior DeAundre Manuel (Brooklyn, N.Y./KIPP NYC Prep) added eight.
 
Lycoming opened the game with seven straight points through the first three minutes. Wilkes was able to close within a point at 11-10 before taking a 21-19 lead with 4:55 left. The Warriors again responded, with Hamilton hitting a tough turnaround jumper, which started another run of seven straight points before the teams traded buckets in the last 15 seconds to make it 28-23 at halftime.
 
The Warriors shot 57 percent (27-of-47) from the field in the game and hit 71 percent (12-of-17) at the free throw line, while holding the Colonels to 44 percent (24-of-55) and just five free throw attempts in the game.
 
Drake Marshall led the Colonels with 18 points and Trent Fisher added 17 points and eight rebounds.
 
The Warriors get back on the court on Saturday, Feb. 12, when they host Arcadia University as part of a MAC Freedom doubleheader at 3 p.m. The women's game will tip at 1 p.m.