Men's Basketball - 2002-03 Season

Wilkes University 61, Delaware Valley 58

DOYLESTOWN (PA) - Dave Plisko hit a layup with 32 seconds left and Alex Hairston blocked a shot with five seconds remaining as Wilkes University avoided a major upset with a 61-58 victory over host Delaware Valley College in a Freedom Conference game.

The Colonels improved to 17-5 overall and 8-4 in conference play while the Aggies fell to 5-17, 0-12.

Delaware Valley, which started four freshmen and one sophomore in the contest, gave the Colonels everything it had and took a 58-57 lead with 47 seconds left as freshman center Brian Singer hit a turnaround in the paint. However, Wilkes came downcourt and Rashawn Pressley found an open Plisko for a basket and a one-point lead.

The Aggies crossed halfcourt and called timeout with 26.1 seconds remaining. In the final seconds, Randall Graves drove toward the basket and then pulled up for a jumper, but it was blocked by Hairston. The rebound went off a Delaware Valley player and out of bounds, giving the Colonels the ball with 2.7 seconds left.

John Sclafani was fouled with 1.4 seconds remaining and the freshman guard hit both free throws to give Wilkes a three-point lead. A desperation 3-point attempt from beyond halfcourt by the Aggies' Tim Smink was not close and the Colonels escaped with the victory.

Wilkes led 35-27 at halftime but, after the team traded baskets to start the second stanza, Delaware Valley scored six straight points - four by Singer - to pull to within two. Wilkes' lead was never higher than four points the rest of the way and the Aggies tied it on a pair of occasions.

Down 55-51, Delaware Valley scored five straight points, including a 3-pointer by Smink, to take its first lead of the game at 56-55 with 2:46 to go. Sclafani hit a pair of free throws 24 seconds to regain the lead for Wilkes and set-up the dramatics in the final minute.

Singer paced Delaware Valley with 15 points while Smink, James Avant and Sean Smith added eight points apiece. Graves notched five points, six rebounds and seven assists in the losing effort.

Plisko led all scorers with 22 points while Hairston had 13 points and six rebounds. Sclafani finished with eight points in 11 minutes of action.