WILKES-BARRE - Four different players scored in double-figures, led by a double-double by senior Matthew Mancuso (Bridgewater, N.J./Bridgewater-Raritan) (19 points and 17 rebounds) as The University of Scranton men's basketball team opened a huge lead in the first half and never looked back in a 91-62 win at Wilkes on Wednesday night.
With the victory, the Royals moved to 3-1 overall on the young season, while Wilkes suffered their first loss of the year in the defeat, dropping to 4-1 overall.
To start, the host Colonels came out firing, opening a quick 10-5 lead on the Royals in the first three minutes of regulation. Eventually, Scranton grabbed the lead for the first time on the night with 13:35 to go in the period, as a three by sophomore Jackson Danzig (Clarks Green, Pa./Abington Heights) gave the Royals a 15-14 edge.
Wilkes, however, quickly grabbed the lead back at 17-15 with 12 minutes left, which unfortunately for the Colonels, proved to be the last time all night they would hold a lead over Scranton.
The Royals' first run of the opening frame began here, as a 10-0 spurt over the next three minutes gave Scranton their biggest lead of the night at 25-17 with nine minutes left. After two quick buckets by the Colonels cut the Royals lead down to four (25-21), Scranton caught fire, going on a scoring run that ultimately put Wilkes away for the night over the next few minutes.
When the dust settled in the 13-0 run that lasted almost four minutes, the Royals led by an insurmountable 38-21 margin that was capped by another Danzig trey with 5:21 left.
A lay-up by Wilkes finally ended the scoring surge, but the Royals continued to pour it on as the half drew to a close, as Scranton finished the half on a 9-3 spurt to take a 47-26 lead into the locker room for intermission.
Up by 21 entering the second half, Scranton quickly extended their lead out to 23 in the first two minutes of the second half (51-28) and never looked back the rest of the way, coasting down the stretch to an impressive 29-point victory in their first road game of the 2019-20 season.
Overall, a trio of Royals scored 19 points apiece, in the win to lead the offensive charge - Mancuso, Danzig and junior Logan Bailey (Scranton, Pa./Scranton Prep).
On the glass, Mancuso collected a career-high 19 rebounds in the victory, while shooting 6-of-9 from the floor, and draining a pair of three-pointers in the win, as well. He also had three assists, two steals, and two blocks, too, as the 19-rebound effort is tied for the 26th best night on the glass in program history.
Meanwhile, Danzig and Bailey both shot 7-of-12 from the floor, as Danzig dished out a team-high five assists. Rounding out the double-digit scorers on the evening for Scranton was senior Kyle DeVerna (Rockville Centre, N.Y./Kellenberg Memorial), who finished with 16 points while also shooting 7-of-12 from the floor in the victory.
Overall, Scranton was on fire from the floor all night, finishing the game shooting 52.5 percent overall and 60 percent alone in the first half. The Royals also held a decisive rebounding edge over the Colonels (48-32) in the victory, as well.
Wilkes was led in a losing effort by Rob Percoelli, who had 19 points.
The University of Scranton men's basketball team returns to action on Saturday, traveling to Cabrini for another non-conference road game. Action gets underway at 3 p.m.
--ROYALS--