DOYLESTOWN, Pa. – Senior guard James Jones erupted for 43 points and the second-highest single-game scoring total in Delaware Valley College history as the first-place Aggies rallied from a nine-point deficit in the final 2:53 to stun visiting Wilkes University, 77-73, in a Freedom Conference games.

The win upped Delaware Valley's winning streak to four as it improved to 10-6 overall and 6-1 in league contests. It is the latest in a season that the Aggies have ever been atop the conference standings and they hold a two-game lead over two-time defending DeSales University, Eastern University and Misericordia University at the halfway points of Freedom action. The loss dropped the Colonels to 9-7 overall and 3-4 in the conference.

Jones, a two-time all-conference honoree, continued his stellar play of late and his 43 points missed the Aggie record by just one as Joe Butts poured in 44 points in a 1989 contest against Muhlenberg College. He hit 12 of 18 attempts from the field (3-for-5 from 3-point land) and set school single-game marks for both free throws made (16) and attempts (18). In the second half alone, he was 8-for-10 from the field and 14-for-16 from the foul line as he notched 32 of the team's 48 points in the final 20 minutes. Jones also finished the afternoon with six rebounds, five assists and three steals while playing the full 40 minutes.

Jones has now racked up 148 points over the last five games (29.6 avg) including three performances of 30 or more points. He has shot at least 47 percent from the field in all five games and has hit 46 of 49 attempts from the foul line (93.9%).

Delaware Valley trailed for most of the contest, including a 34-28 deficit at halftime. The Aggies pulled to within three on two occasions near the midway point of the second half, but Wilkes answered and took a 67-56 lead with 4:39 remaining after Tyler Breznitsky sank a pair of free throws.

Delaware Valley scored six of the next eight, but a Kendall Hinze layup as the clock ticked under the three-minute mark gave the Colonels a 71-62 lead. They managed just two points the rest of the way as the Aggies began their comeback. Jones hit a layup and then went to the foul line after a Wilkes turnover. He hit the first and missed the second, but Nate Lewis grabbed the offensive rebound to keep possession. Jones missed a layup but Jeremy Buckett was there for the putback and a 71-67 score with 1:55 remaining.

The Colonels turned the ball over on their next possession and Jones was fouled on a drive to the basket with 1:34 left. He sank both and suddenly it was two-point game at 71-69. Wilkes broke the Aggie press but Hinze was called for an offensive foul and a basket was waved off on the play. Delaware Valley put the ball in Jones' hands and he faked a drive and drilled a 3-pointer from the top of key to give the Aggies a 72-71 lead with 57 seconds remaining. It was their first lead since 20-18 with 8:34 to go in the first half.

Wilkes came down and senior guard Chris DeRojas hit a pull-up jumper in the paint to regain the lead with 49 seconds to go. Lewis missed a shot inside for the Aggies, but Beckett tipped it in for a 74-73 advantage with 32 ticks left. DeRojas drove inside, but Beckett blocked his attempt and Jones grabbed the defensive rebound. He was fouled with 11 second to go and hit both attempts for a 76-73 score.

DeRojas had a good look at a game-tying 3-pointer, but it went off the rim and the rebounds went out of bounds off a Wilkes player to give the Aggies possession with four seconds to go. Nathan Bollinger was fouled on the inbounds pass a second later and the freshman hit one of two free throws to seal the comeback for Delaware Valley.

Beckett finished with 11 points, a game-high nine rebounds and three blocks while Jason Goldheimer hit a trio of 3-pointers for nine points in the win.

Wilkes' Bernard Edmonds came off the bench and scored a career-high 22 points in 23 minutes of action. He did not miss a single shot on the day as he was 9-for-9 from the field and 4-for-4 from the foul line. DeRojas finished with 15 points while Hinze had 10 points and six rebounds.