WILKES-BARRE, PA. (January 31, 2018) - The FDU men's basketball team was topped by Wilkes 86-59 Wednesday evening.

The Devils got off to a blistering start, notching the opening six points of the night. After the Colonels answered with eight of the next nine, junior Darren Davy and senior Veon Lassiter each converted jumpers to put FDU back up three.

Over the next 8:41, hosts went on a 26-6 run, shooting 8-of-11 from the field while forcing five Devils turnovers. The Devils shot 12-of-30 in the first half, but free throws plagued the squad, as the team only hit 2-of-10 from the charity stripe in the opening 20 minutes.

Freshman Jimmy Olaniyi brought the Devils within 14 early in the second half, as he scored nine of 11 points during an 11-3 Devils run spanning the two frames. That would be as close as FDU would get, as Wilkes ended the game on a 12-3 rally over the final five minutes.

Olaniyi had a career-best 19 points on 8-of-11 shooting, while classmate Shawn Smith notched 12 points and a team-high six steals.

FDU hosts DeSales on Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m. in the Ferguson Recreation Center. At 10:30 a.m. the men's basketball team will be holding its annual alumni game.