WILKES-BARRE, Pa. – Behind breakout performances from two freshmen guards, the Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham men's basketball team registered a valiant comeback but was outlasted by Wilkes University 93-89 in double overtime on Friday night.

The Devils (4-12, 2-4 MAC Freedom) trailed by 16 points in the second half but fought back to erase the deficit and force overtime before the Colonels (7-10, 2-4 MAC Freedom) narrowly held on for the win following two extra frames.

After playing just seven minutes in the team's last two outings, freshman guard Anthony Mitchell broke out in a big way on Friday night. The Devils' freshman guard netted a career-high 31 points on 11-of-16 shooting, while dishing out five assists and nabbing four steals in 42 minutes of action.

Mitchell's fellow first-year backcourt mate Derek Leohner also totaled a career-high with 24 points on the night, including six 3-pointers. All six of Leohner's treys came in the second half and overtime as the freshman was integral in the comeback.

Steve Stravinski also knocked down six 3-pointers and led the Colonels with 27 points and nine rebounds in the win.

The Colonels rode the long ball to a 35-27 halftime edge, knocking down seven treys in the opening stanza.

After a Steve Herdman layup, Wilkes stretched its lead to 16 by rattling off a ten straight points and led 45-29 with 17:14 to go in regulation.

Trailing by 13, the Devils clawed back with a 9-0 run of their own, which was capped by a James Moran lay-in with 7:31 to play.

When the Colonels rebuilt their cushion to 10, 67-57, with 3:31 remaining the game appeared to be slipping away from FDU-Florham, however, the Devils valiantly fought back again. Leohner sparked the run with a layup and a 3-pointer, which pulled the Devils within one in the final minute.

Following a jumper by Stravinski, Leohner came through with the biggest basket of his young career. With the clock ticking down, the first year guard pulled up with an off-balance 3-pointer that swished the bottom of the net and tied the game at 70-70.

The Devils' defense held on the other end of the floor and the game proceeded to the first overtime.

Trailing by four with 1:06 left in the first overtime, Leohner came up huge again with another long 3-pointer.  On the ensuing play, Mitchell stripped a Wilkes' guard and then dropped in the game-tying, fastbreak layup with 38 ticks to go.

Each team had an opportunity in the final 38 seconds but came up short and the game proceeded to a second overtime.

Leohner continued his 3-point prowess in the second extra frame and pulled the Devils within one, 87-86, with 17 seconds to go. After a pair of Wilkes' free throws Leohner was fouled while attempting a game-tying 3-pointer but was only able to convert 2-of-3 from the line.

The Colonels were able to close out the game at the charity stripe and escape with the victory.

Moran also posted career highs in the win and recorded his first-career double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds, while Herdman chipped in 12 points and Ali scored nine with 13 boards.

The two teams combined to make 28 treys in the thrilling game, 16 for Wilkes and 12 for FDU-Florham.

The Devils return to action this Wednesday, January 27 when they host Manhattanville College at 8 p.m.