DOYLESTOWN (PA) – Delaware Valley University used a stifling defense to hold King's College to 28 percent shooting from the field and 6.3 percent from 3-point land as the Aggies downed visiting King's College, 71-44, in the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Freedom opener for both teams. The win was also the 100th in the collegiate coaching career of Casey Stitzel.
The winningest coach in DelVal men's basketball history in just seven-plus seasons, Stitzel is just the ninth coach in any Aggie program to reach the 100-win plateau (100-88). He took over prior to 2008-09 campaign and inherited a squad that had gone 3-22 overall and winless in conference play the season before. Since then, Stitzel has led the Aggies to four MAC Freedom Conference tournament appearances, three championship game berths, two conference championships and two trips to the NCAA Division III playoffs. DelVal is 4-1 on the current season with four straight victories.
It was Aggie defense that dominated the contest from the opening tip. They suffocated the Monarchs (5-3, 0-1) all evening and forced them into a 14-for-50 effort from the field, including just 1-for-16 from beyond the arc. DelVal forced 21 turnovers and turned them in 23 points. Many came in transition as the Aggies scored 14 fast break points (0 for King's).
DelVal struggled from the field in the first half, making just 13 of 34 shots (38.2%), including a 3-for-16 effort (18.8%) from 3-point land. And when the Monarchs' Jake Barber hit one of two free throws with 7:10 remaining in the stanza, the game was deadlocked at 17-17.
However, the rest of the contest belonged to DelVal, starting with a 14-2 run to end the half and give the team a 31-19 advantage at the break. The spurt began with a Chris Moran dunk and back-to-back layups by Barry Brockington and Andre' Butler. The teams traded two free throw apiece before the Aggies netted the next six on a layup and dunk by Moran and a basket inside by Brockington.
DelVal then found its shooting touch in the second half, hitting half of its shots from the field, including six treys on 13 attempts. A 20-4 run in the first five minutes upped the lead to 28 and put the game away. The second-half start was highlighted by Alex Matsinye as the freshman hit four bombs for 12 points. King's never got closer than 23 points the rest of the way while the Aggie lead went to as many as 29.
All 15 DelVal players saw playing time with nine getting in the scoring column. Moran led the balanced attack with 13 point and eight rebounds. All 12 of Matsinye's points came in that second-half run while Brockington also finished the night with 12 points. Butler came off the bench to add 11 points and five boards while Matthew Gerner had nine points. Zach Sly had five points, six assists and four rebounds in the win.
Chris and John Fazzini had eight points apiece to pace the Monarchs. Dan Rutecki finished with seven points and three rebounds.
DelVal returns to action on Saturday, December 5 when it travels to Eastern University for a MAC Freedom battle.