DOYLESTOWN (PA) – Wilkes University opened the second half with a 32-6 run as the Colonels erased a 12-point deficit and notched 78-69 victory over host Delaware Valley University in a Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Freedom game.

Wilkes remained perfect in conference play at 3-0 (10-4 overall) while the Aggies dropped to 2-12 overall and 0-3 in the league.

The first half belonged to Delaware Valley, especially the final eight minutes. Trailing by three, 24-21, the Aggies ran off 13 straight points in a three-minute span to take a 10-point advantage. Austin Stoeckel had six points in the run while Alex Matsinye and Branden Curry combined for the remaining seven points.

Later in the stanza, Stoeckel continued his hot shooting by drilling a jumper to give him 14 points in the half and it put his team up 12. DelVal eventually took a lead by that margin, 40-28, into the intermission. The Aggies shot 51.9 percent from the field, including 6-for-10 from 3-point land. They also converted 11 Colonel turnovers into 14 points.

However, the second half was a different story and it started just 27 seconds in when Mark Mullins had a steal and a coast-to-coast dunk. That ignited a 12-0 run, including five more from Mullins, which erased the DelVal advantage.

Andre' Butler briefly stemmed the tide by hitting a trey for the Aggies, but the Colonels responded with next eight and 24 of 27 to complete the 32-6 run and take a 60-46 advantage. DelVal scored the next six to put its deficit into single digits, but Wilkes built its lead back up to 13, 71-58, with 4:46 to play.

The Aggies made one final push as a 10-3 rally, capped by a Butler layup with 1:11 remaining, made it a 74-68 contest. However, the Colonels hit their free throws down the stretch for the win.

Wilkes finished the game shooting 48.1 percent from the field and was 24-for-29 from the foul line. Connor Evans led the way with 19 points while Mullins, Zach Brunner and Marcus Robinson had 13 points apiece. Mullins added eight rebounds.

DelVal was led by Stoeckel's career-high 17 points. The senior was 6-for-8 from the field, including 3-for-5 from 3-point land. He also added four rebounds, four steals and two blocked shots. Butler notched 13 points, seven rebounds, six assists and four steals. Damian Washington came off the bench and provided 13 points and seven boards while Alex Matsinye hit double figures with 10 points.

The Aggies will host defending MAC Freedom champion Misericordia University on Saturday, January 13 (3 p.m.).