MEN'S BASKETBALL: Muhlenberg College 62, Delaware Valley University 57

DOYLESTOWN (PA) – The Delaware Valley University men's basketball team could not find its rhythm at home and shot just 2-for-25 from beyond the arc as Muhlenberg College escaped with a 62-57 non-conference victory.

The Aggies fell to 6-7 overall with its fourth consecutive setback, while the Mules improved to 6-6.

The lone 3-pointer of the first stanza for DelVal came from Damian Washington and put the Aggies up, 10-4, 4:31 into the game. Moments later, Andre' Butler fed Terrence Johnson for a short jumper to give DelVal its largest lead of the game, 12-5.

Muhlenberg tied the score at 20-20 with 5:43 left in the half after a 5-0 spurt that included a 3-ball from Nicholas Chudy, but the Aggies maintained a one-point, 25-24, lead at the break.

DelVal shot 9-for-28 (32.1%) from the field and 1-for-12 from beyond the arc, while the Mules went 8-for-24 (33.3%) from the field and 3-for-12 from deep through the first 20 minutes.

Muhlenberg used an 8-4 run to start the second to take a 32-29 lead early. The Aggies responded by scoring six of the next nine points in the game to knot the score at 35-35.

The score was deadlocked twice more, including at 47-47 with 7:17 left in regulation as Johnson hit DelVal's second trey of the night from the corner. The Aggies capped what was an 8-0 run with a driving layup by Alex Matsinye to go up, 52-47, with 6:23 on the clock.

The Mules responded with an 11-2 run over the next five minutes to take a 58-54 lead with just over a minute left.

DelVal got two offensive rebounds on its next possession and Washington was sent to the line and hit one-of-two to make it a three-point game with 36 seconds remaining. After Matt Gnias hit a pair of free throws, Matsinye drove to the basket and scored two to make it a 60-57 game with 21 seconds on the clock.

The Aggies fouled Noah Watson and the freshman missed the front end of a 1-in-1, and DelVal corralled the rebound and called a timeout with 17 seconds left. Out of the timeout, Mike Cianciulli got open for a good look from beyond-the-arc, but the attempt was off target, ultimately leading to the 62-57 road victory for the Mules.

Matsinye led the Aggies with 19 points to go with four rebounds and three assists. Washington finished with 16 points and Butler led the squad with nine boards and five assists, and added six points. Cianciulli finished with seven points, six rebounds, and two steals. DelVal shot 22-for-63 from the field.

Gaines and Gnias each scored 15 points for Muhlenberg and Gnias had two steals. Chudy and Michael Morreale scored nine points apiece and Erik Werheim grabbed six rebounds to go with five points. The Mules finished the game with a 22-for-50 effort from the field and went 6-for-24 from deep.

The Aggies will not play another out of conference game the rest of the season as they look ahead to 12 straight Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Freedom games, beginning at Misericordia on Wednesday, January 9 at 6 p.m.