DOVER, Del. – The York College men's basketball team gave up runs early and late to the Wesley College Wolverines as the Spartans fell 63-51Wednesday night at Wentworth Gymnasium.

The Spartans (4-16, 3-10 CAC) found themselves in a sizeable hole early as the Wolverines (10-10, 8-5) opened the game with an 11-0 run through the first three minutes. The game's leading scorer, Anthony Bowers had eight of is career-high 24 points on Wesley's opening run, including two three pointers.

York finally put an end to Wesley's opening run as freshman Blayde Reich (Lebanon, Pa. / Lebanon) knocked down a three pointer, his first of the season, to cut the deficit to 11-3.

The Spartans continued to cut into the Wolverine lead as they received another three-point field goal from another big man, Evan Crosby (Honeoye Falls, N.Y. / McQuaid Jesuit), who cut the Wesley lead to 11-6 on his first three of the year.

The two teams continued to knock down buckets, but with Wesley hitting a few more as the Wolverines took their largest lead of the half, 28-16, with 1:46 left on the clock

Blake Straitman (Westminster, Md. / Francis Scott Key) hit both of his free throws with 13 seconds left to play to cut the deficit to seven, but then a free throw by Bowers on the next possession put the Wolverines ahead 30-22 heading into the break.

York came out of the locker room with a new attitude and the determination to climb back in the game. Matt Scamuffo (Chalfont, Pa. / Central Bucks South) exemplified that attitude as he hit a three pointer right out of gates on York's first possession.

Next, Chris Conway (Luthersville, Md. / Dulaney) stole the ball back for York and Dalton Myers (Finksburg, Md. / Westminster) hit both of his free throws on the ensuing possession. Myers also converted a layup on the following possession as the Spartans opened the second half on a 7-0 run and pulled within one point of tying the score.

The Spartans tied the score, 42-42, when Brad Wesner (Mechanicsburg, Pa. / Trinity) hit a three pointer with 8:44 left to play.

However, the tie would be the closest the Spartans would come to victory as the Wolverines went on a 21-9 run to finish the game and compiled a 10-3 advantage in rebounds during the last 8:44, including three offensive rebounds that led directly to points.

Wesley shot a solid 45.1% from the floor, including 31.6% from three-point range, compared to York's 35.4 percentage from the field and 27.8 percentage from beyond the arc.

The Wolverines also out-rebounded the Spartans 36-29 and produced 15 second-chance points to York's eight. 

York will hit the road again on Saturday as the men travel to Marymount (Va.) to face the Saints in a CAC contest at 3:00 p.m.

Dalton Myers photo courtesy of Scott Guise - York College Director of Athletic Communications