DOYLESTOWN (PA) – Delaware Valley University outscored visiting Manhattanville College, 49-28, in the second half as the Aggies broke open a tie game and posted a 73-52, Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Freedom victory.
DelVal improved its record to 12-2 overall and remained alone in first place in the standings with a 3-0 league mark. The Aggies are a perfect 8-0 at home and have won 12 straight at James Work Gymnasium dating back to last season. The loss dropped the Valiants to 8-6 overall and 1-2 in the MAC Freedom.
The first half saw both teams fail to get into an offensive rhythm as they each shot under 34 percent from the field. Manhattanville led throughout most of the stanza, including a 19-14 advantage after a pair of free throws by Anthony Maestre with 4:40 remaining. DelVal turned it on over the next two-plus minutes as it went on a 10-0 run to take a 24-19 lead. However, a Juan Camacho layup and an Andrew Winter trey pulled the Valiants even at 24 at the break.
The second half was a different story for the Aggies and the tone was set in the first three minutes. Zach Sly got inside for a layup and later fed Tyliek Kimbrough for a basket and a foul on the fast break. Kimbrough added the free throw and then stole a pass and gave an alley-oop toss to Chris Moran for a dunk. Kimbrough then got out on the break again and scored to complete a 9-0 run and a 33-24 DelVal lead.
Manhattanville pulled to within seven twice in the next minute of play, before the Aggies used another 9-0 spurt to open up a 44-28 advantage with 13:17 remaining. Andre' Butler had four points in the run while Barry Brockington drilled a trey and Moran added another slam.
DelVal built the lead to as many as 24 the rest of the way as it finished shooting 48.6 percent from the field (45.5 percent from beyond the 3-point line) in the second half. The defense limited the Valiants to 35.5 percent shooting for the half and 34.5 percent for the game.
Sly was 4-for-6 from 3-point land and finished with a game-high 16 points to go along with six rebounds and four steals. Moran, who was scoreless in the first half, ended the night with 14 points and 10 boards, his eighth double-double of the season. Butler and fellow rookie Alex Matsinye had 10 points apiece while Brockington nearly had a double-double of his own with nine points and nine boards. Kimbrough did it all with nine points, a career-best nine assists, four rebounds and three steals.
Winter came off the bench and paced Manhattanville with 14 points. Camacho and Anthony Maeste had 12 points apiece while combining for 11 rebounds, four steals and three assists.
DelVal hits the road on Saturday, January 16 when it travels to MAC Freedom foe Wilkes University.