CHESTER (PA) – Delaware Valley College scored the final nine points of overtime, including six by Daulton Derr, as the Aggies advanced to the championship game of the Widener University Tip-Off for Autism Awareness with a 71-63 triumph over two-time NCAA Division III playoff qualifier Skidmore College.

Delaware Valley will meet Wesley College in Saturday title contest, which now has a starting time of 5:00 p.m. (Widener is hosting an NCAA football playoff game earlier in the day). The Wolverines squeezed by the host Pride, 54-51, in the first match-up of the tournament.

Derr hit one of two free throws with 20 seconds left in regulation to give the Aggies a 59-56 advantage. However, the Thoroughbreds' Connor Merill sank a trey with 12 ticks remaining to the contest. Derr had a chance to win it, but he missed a 3-point attempt and the game went into overtime.

In the extra session, Tanner Brooks opener with a layup for Skidmore, but Delaware Valley freshman Zach Sly completed a three-point play for a 63-62 advantage. Brooks came back with a layup to regain the lead for the Thoroughbreds.

The rest of the overtime belonged to Derr and the Aggies. The senior forward began with a basket in the paint for a 64-64 advantage with 3:49 remaining. The score remained that way for nearly two minutes before Derr hit back-to-back jumpers for a five-point lead. Cam Lee followed with a pair of free throws with 53 seconds to go and Jeremy Beckett added one from the charity stripe 40 seconds later for the 71-63 final.  

The game featured seven ties (including at 29 at the end of the first half) and 18 lead changes. Neither team held a lead greater than six points all evening. Delaware Valley shot 41.4 percent from the field, including a 4-for-5 clip in the overtime. The Aggies did struggle on the boards as it was outrebounded by a 54-36 margin. However, their defense held the two-time defending Liberty League champions to under 37 percent shooting, including missed on their last eight shots of the extra session.

Derr finished with a game-high 19 points while Beckett, a two-time all-conference honoree, had 16 points and 11 rebounds. Sly added 13 points in his first collegiate contest and Jay Donovan led all players on the boards with 13.

Merrill had 18 points and eight rebounds to lead Skidmore. Aldi Medunjanin added 13 points and Brooks had 11 points, eight rebounds and four assists.