Center Valley, PA (February 3, 2011) – Four players reached double digits and sophomore Brett Moyer and senior Brian Hunter each registered double-doubles as the DeSales University men's basketball team won its sixth straight game, 70-65, over Manhattanville College on Thursday evening setting up a showdown with Delaware Valley College on Saturday afternoon.
Moyer finished with a game-high 16 points and also pulled down 10 boards for his sixth double-double of the season, while Hunter was at his best on Thursday night delivering 11 points, 7 seven rebounds, a career-high 12 assists, and four steals all while playing stifling defense on MC's top scorer, junior Trevoy Pointer, holding him to just nine points, eight below his season average.
Sophomore Brian Kerwin added 12 points, junior Bob Zanneo finished with 14 points off the bench including a 4-for-4 night from outside the arc, and freshman Mike Coleman totaled eight points and two steals in the win.
Felipe Vargas led the Valiants (12-8, 4-5 Freedom) with 14 points off the bench and senior Peter Mehmel and junior Glen Rodriguez each finished with 10 points for Manhattanville.
DeSales (15-5, 6-3 Freedom) controlled play in the opening half, shooting 68.0 percent from the field and canning 6-of-8 from three-point land as the Bulldogs enjoyed a healthy, 43-29, at the break. Moyer led the way with 12 points and Hunter dished out nine of his 12 helpers in the opening twenty minutes.
The Bulldogs extended its half-time lead to 16 points (52-36) at the 15:25 mark before the Valiants made a run. MC forced three straight DSU turnovers and used a quick 7-0 run to pull within nine points at the 12:19 mark.
From there the Valiants chipped away at the deficit and after a three-pointer from Hunter pushed DSU up seven with 6:39 to go, MC scored the next eight points to take its first second-half lead, 63-62, with just 4:18 remaining in the game.
Two free throws by Zanneo were followed by a Mehmel lay-up, but Hunter followed that with a short jumper in the lane to put DSU back on top by one with 3:13 on the clock.
The Bulldogs then put on the defensive clamps holding Manhattanville scoreless over the final 3:13 forcing two turnovers and four missed three-pointers, while Hunter and Coleman hit 4-of-6 from the line providing the final margin of victory.
DSU finished the game shooting 52.1 percent from the field and were 9-for-15 from outside the arc. The Bulldogs also out-rebounded the Valiants, 35-28. MC shot 39.1 percent from the field and was just 7-of-21 from long distance in the loss.
DeSales now travels to Delaware Valley College on Saturday in a match-up pitting the two teams tied for first place in the Freedom Conference standings following FDU's upset of the Aggies on Thursday night. Winner of the Saturday tilt will take over sole possession of first place heading into the final two weeks of the regular season. Tip is set for 3:00 pm.