CENTER VALLEY (PA) – Delaware Valley College rallied from a 17-point, second-half deficit to tie the game late, but host DeSales University scored the final seven points for a 75-68, Freedom Conference victory.

It was the Aggies first trip to Billera Hall since they cut the nets down last February after winning their second Freedom championship in the last three years. They were in first place but the loss, combined with other scores around the conference, left a four-way tie atop the standings with Delaware Valley (11-9 overall), DeSales (12-8 overall), Manhattanville College and Misericordia University all holding 6-3 records. FDU-Florham (5-4) and King's College (4-5) stayed in the Freedom tournament race (top four qualify) with just five games remaining

After taking a 42-33 halftime lead, the Bulldogs opened the second stanza with the first two baskets and four free throws to push their lead to 17. A Jay Donovan drive to the basket and ensuing free throw ended the run and Zach Sibel added a breakaway layup to make it a 52-40 contest with 15:04 remaining.  

However, two possessions later and with the shot clock winding down, Brian Laird hit a 3-pointer for DeSales while being fouled. He completed the four-point play to bump the lead up to 16 with 13:45 to go. Back came Delaware Valley as three free throws by Francis Arnold and another 3-point play by Donovan for a 6-0 run over a 67-second span.

Later in the half, Arnold stole the ball at halfcourt and fed Adonis Fleming for the layup as the Aggies got back to within single digits at 63-54 with 8:55 on the clock. A Moran follow-up of an Arnold miss made it a seven-point game. Arnold then stole another ball and was fouled. He missed both free throws, but the Aggies kept possession with an offensive rebound and Moran drained a long jumper for a 63-58 contest with seven minutes left.

Cody Deal drained a huge 3-pointer for DeSales but Moran hit another jumper at the other end. A Deal layup was followed by a trey from Donovan and a 68-63 score. After a Bulldogs miss, the Aggies got two chances again thanks to an offensive board and Zach Sly swished a trey from the top of the key to pull Delaware Valley to within two, 68-66, with 3:55 remaining.

Just over a minute later, Sly hit a driving layup as the Aggies drew even for the first time since it was a 4-4 game two minutes and 12 second in. However, Kyle Hash sank a 3-pointer from the top of the key with 1:54 remaining and, after a Fleming 3-point miss, Deal hit a short jumper as the shot clock was running out for a 73-68 lead. The Aggies missed two shots and Travis Bryan sank two foul shots for the Bulldogs for the 75-68 final.

DeSales, with the help of four offensive rebounds, took a 12-4 advantage less than five minutes into the game. The Bulldogs upped the lead to 31-17 when Delaware Valley got back in the contest by scoring 12 of the next 14 points to trail by just four, 33-29, with 3:48 left in the half. Arnold had five of the 12, including his second trey of the game. He finished the half with 15 points and helped spark the second-half comeback, but DeSales eventually came away with the win.

Moran scored 14 of his game-high 22 points in the second half. The sophomore also finished with 12 rebounds and three blocks. Arnold had 18 points while Donovan added 12 points and six boards.

Hash came off the bench to score 18 points for the Bulldogs. Mike Coleman had 13 points and eight rebounds while Deal added 11 points.