WILKES-BARRE, PA. (January 18, 2019) - The FDU-Florham men's basketball team was topped by host Wilkes University 96-53 Friday evening. 

The loss drops the Devils to 4-13, 1-5 within the Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom. Wilkes improves to 12-5, 3-2 in the MAC Freedom. 

Sophomore Oliver Ortman tallied five straight points and senior Tyler Christie knocked down a layup to give FDU an 11-7 lead with 14:24 left in the first half. The Colonels responded with seven of their own before senior Anthony Mitchell hit a layup to cut the deficit to one. Wilkes would then embark on a 16-0 spurt to stretch the lead to double-digits.  

The lead grew to 22 before a three-pointer from senior Darren Davy ended a near seven-minute stretch without a basket. Junior Tino Gonzalez tallied the final three points of the opening half, hitting a layup and making the free throw after getting fouled. 

The Colonels shot a blistering 70% (21-of-30) from the field in the first 20 minutes. Davy led the Devils with seven points in the opening half, with sophomore Shawn Smith tallying a team high five rebounds. 

Eight of the first 10 points of the second half belonged to Wilkes before junior Kenneth LaRocca knocked a triple. Wilkes used a 12-0 run midway through the second stanza to pad their lead before Mitchell stopped the run with a layup. Ortman notched five points in the second half, while senior Derek Leohner handed out four assists in 14 minutes of second half action. 

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE 

• Smith had a season-best 10 rebounds to go along with six points. 

• Leohner's four assists marked a team-best and also were a season-high. 

• Ortman scored 10 or more points for the fourth time in his last six contests. 

UP NEXT 

The Devils return home Wednesday evening, hosting Manhattanville College at 6 p.m.