WILKES-BARRE, Pa. – A huge late-game comeback from the Manhattanville College men's basketball team came up just a few points short as the Valiants dropped a 73-68 game to Wilkes University in MAC Freedom action on Saturday afternoon at the Marts Center.
 
Sophomore JoJo Cobbs (Elmsford, N.Y./Briarcliff) led Manhattanville (6-7, 0-2 MAC Freedom) with a game-high 19 points, hitting 8-of-10 shots from the field to go with seven rebounds. Senior Dom Arena (Bronx, N.Y./Cardinal Spellman) netted 16 points and added a team-high three steals, while freshman Sean Smith (Yonkers, N.Y./Sacred Heart) also reached double figures with 13 points and six boards.
 
The Valiants trailed by as many as 21 points in the second half and were behind by 19 points with 9:40 remaining. However, the visitors – and more specifically Arena – made a quick run to get back in the game, as the senior scored 11 straight points in the span of 3:15 to decrease the deficit to eight (60-52) with 6:25 to go.
 
Manhattanville continued to chip away at the lead for the rest of the game, getting within four after a Cobbs three-pointer with 41 seconds remaining. But the Valiants could get no closer as the Colonels hit just enough free throws to keep the visitors out of reach.
 
Manhattanville led for most of the first five minutes, taking an 11-9 lead following a layup by junior Mike Ryan (Bronx, N.Y./Arlington) and a free throw from freshman Mike Granda (Monroe Township, N.J./St. Joseph) with 5:13 elapsed in the half. Wilkes (9-4, 2-0 MAC Freedom) responded with an 18-2 run to take a 27-13 lead with 9:48 remaining in the half, and the home team maintained its double-digit advantage until the Valiants made one last run.
 
The Valiants outscored Wilkes 44-36 in the second half and shot 59.4 percent (19 of 32) from the field over the final 20 minutes, but could not overcome their slow start. Manhattanville finished the game shooting 46.7 percent (28 of 60) from the field, while the Colonels ended the day at 47.3 percent (26 of 55).
 
Manhattanville returns to conference action on Wednesday, when the Valiants host DeSales University beginning at 6 p.m. at Kennedy Gym.