The University of Scranton men's basketball team is starting to develop quite a one-two punch, if the team's performance in the Cross-County Challenge is any indication of what's to come.

Junior guard Ross Danzig (Clarks Green, Pa./Abington Heights/Blair Academy, N.J.) had a game-high 24 points and sophomore forward Brendan Boken (South Pasadena, Calif./Loyola) had 21 points as the Royals defeated Wilkes, 83-68, in the second day of the event at the Long Center.

Scranton shares the Cross-County Challenge crown with Marywood, which also went 2-0 in the event. The Royals have earned at least a share of the title in each of the event's three years while winning all six of their games.

The Royals (10-2) also received 15 points from junior guard Justin Klingman (Clarks Summit, Pa./Abington Heights) while pushing their winning streak to five.

Danzig earned co-MVP honors after also having 11 rebounds, five assists and a block. In the two games – the Royals defeated King's, 87-83, one day earlier – Danzig had 42 points, 19 rebounds, 13 assists and two blocks. Boken also earned all-tournament honors after pulling down four rebounds to go along with three steals, a block and an assist. He finished the event with 45 points, 13 rebounds, five blocks, three steals and two assists.

On Friday night, it was the inside play of the Royals that led them to victory. On Saturday, it was their 3-point proficiency that helped them pull away. The Royals hit 12 of 22 (54.5 percent) from beyond the arc, including five of seven in the second half when they turned a six-point lead at the break into a 15-point win. Klingman led the way by going 5-for-8 from 3-point range and finishing the two-day event at 8-for-12 beyond the arc.

Wilkes (5-6) came out of the locker room at halftime and scored the first four points to pull within two at 39-37. But Scranton responded with a 14-2 run to push the lead to 14, and the Colonels never got within single digits the rest of the way. Klingman had a pair of 3-pointers and Danzig added five points in the decisive run.

Senior guard Tommy Morgan (Greenlawn, N.Y./Chaminade) added seven points, three assists and a block, and fellow senior guards Michael Barr (North Wales, Pa./Lansdale Catholic) and Mike Marchman (Blauvelt, N.Y./St. Joseph Regional) combined for 11 points, including three 3-pointers, and four assists.

The Royals finished the day going 26-for-55 (47.3 percent) from the field, led by Boken, who was 9-for-13. They also hit 19 of 23 free throws (82.6 percent), as Danzig hit all nine of his attempts. They committed 12 turnovers, including just five in the second half.

Scranton is now 76-35 all-time against Wilkes, including victories in the last seven meetings between the schools.

Wilkes was led by sophomore guard Alec Wizar (Lebanon, N.J./Annville Cleona), who had 18 points, and sophomore guard Steve Stravinski (Pittston, Pa./Pittston), who earned all-tournament honors after scoring 17 points. The duo combined to go 7-for-9 from 3-point range in the loss.

The Colonels shot 45.3 percent (24-for-53) from the field, including 7-for-14 from 3-point range. They were 13-for-20 (65 percent) from the free throw line, and won the rebounding battle, 31-30, while committing 15 turnovers.

In the earlier game on Saturday, Marywood defeated King's, 77-68, to finish the event 2-0 and earn co-champion honors. Junior guard Shane Kellaher (Dayton, Md./Glenelg) earned co-MVP honors after scoring 11 points and dishing out seven assists. Junior forward Kendall Harris (Brentwood, N.Y./Pocono Mountain East) earned all-tournament honors after added 13 points.

Scranton returns to action on Saturday, Jan. 11, when the Royals host Juniata in a Landmark Conference game at 2 p.m. in the Long Center. 

--ROYALS--