The University of Scranton men's basketball team opened Landmark play with a hard-fought loss against Wilkes University, 58-48, Wednesday night at the John Long Center. 

The Basics

• Final Score: Wilkes 58, Scranton 48
• Records: Scranton (2-2, 0-1 LC) Wilkes (4-0, 1-0 LC)

How it Happened

• Junior Jon Spatola opened the game for the Royals with a steal, then converted a step-back jumper to put Scranton on the board.
• Two minutes later, Spatola took the ball away from the colonels again, this time taking the ball the length of the court for reverse layup and a 4-0 Scranton lead. 
• Senior Will McLoughlin drove to the basket, then kick the ball out to graduate student Tahaj Parland who drained a three-pointer from the right wing. 
• With 11:40 remaining in the half, senior Mason Thompson converted a pull up jumper to put the Royals ahead 13-8. 
• Freshman Will Marion found sophomore Nick Ruisi on the parameter for a three-pointer. On the next possession, Ruisi worked his defender down low an earn a turnaround jumper and increase Scranton's lead, 27-18. 
• With 1:57 on the clock, Marion forced a Wilkes' turnover and found McLoughlin down court who scored the last points of the half for the Royals, who led going into the locker room 29-24.
• Wilkes struck first in the second half, but Spatola netted a baseline fade away jump shot, and the Royals retained the lead 31-26. 
• Wilkes then went on a 7-0 run to tie the game at 33 a piece with 15:28 remaining. 
• Spatola came up with another steal and found sophomore P.J. Kellachan under the basket who made the layup, giving Scranton a 37-33 lead. 
• Down one with ten minutes to go, sophomore Brendan Carr came off the bench and drained a three from right corner on his first touch of the game, putting the Royals ahead 40-38.
• McLoughlin drove into the paint to tie things at 42, then Kellachan found Ruisi down low to help the Royals regain the lead 44-42. 
• That would be Scranton's last lead of the game, as Wilkes' took a 10-2 run, defeating the Royals 58-48. 

Top Performers

• Spatola finished with 13 points and five steals.
• McLoughlin added 10 points and three assists. 
• Thompson and Kellachan each had five rebounds. 

Inside the Box Score

• The Royals led for 62.5% of the game, while the Colonels only led for 25%. 
• The lead changed seven times throughout the game, and the score was tied on five occasions. 
• The Colonels outscored the Royals 34-19 in second half.

Up Next 

The Royals will face Juniata College in the second game of a doubleheader Saturday at the John Long Center, with tip-off scheduled for 3:30 PM.