CENTER VALLEY (PA) – The Delaware Valley University men's basketball team suffered a 73-58 defeat at DeSales University in a Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Freedom game on Saturday.
It was the first time this season that the Aggies (16-5) dropped two in a row. DelVal fell into a first place tie with the Bulldogs (15-6), both with 7-3 conference marks and four contests remaining. Three of the Aggies' four games left will be played in the friendly confines of James Work Gymnasium, where they have won 14 consecutive matchups. DeSales will have to play three of its final four on the road.
The Bulldogs never trailed in their quest to earn a season split, having lost 75-47 in Doylestown on January 22. They opened the game with an 11-2 run. Cody Deal had eight of those points and Brian Laird sank a three-pointer. The closest that DelVal got in the next 11 minutes was seven points. After a Luke Connaghan layup with 4:37 to go in the opening half, DeSales led 30-18. The Aggies orchestrated a 14-5 run that carried over into the second half, getting them within three (35-32). Freshman Alex Matsinye drained a trio of threes in the stretch while seniors Barry Brockington (two), Chris Moran (two) and Zach Sly (one) all contributed to the scoring.
Delaware Valley trailed 40-37 with 14:22 on the clock. The Bulldogs then took control of the game with an 18-1 rally. Laird had 11 points, Connor Jones made a triple and Kuity Slanger and Ryan Callahan tallied two points apiece. DeSales' largest lead was 23 (65-42) and the Aggies had a 16-6 surge to get within 13 (71-58) but the damage had been done.
The Bulldogs had the hot hands all game long, shooting 48 percent (27-of-56) from the field, including 63 percent (12-of-19) from three-point range. They also controlled the glass by a 42-33 margin. Laird led the way with 28 points, making 9-of-12 field goals and he was 7-of-10 from beyond the arc. He added seven rebounds and four assists. Deal finished with 12 points and six boards. Aaron Burton contributed with eight points and eight rebounds while Brandon Bridy scored seven points and dished six assists. Slanger corralled nine rebounds.
On the other side, the Aggies struggled to find the basket throughout the afternoon, making 19-of-63 field goal attempts (30 percent) and just 7-of-25 from three-point land (28 percent). Moran produced a double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds. Matsinye followed with 14 points and six boards. Brockington registered 13 points while junior Tyliek Kimbrough tallied nine.
DelVal looks to bounce back at home against Misericordia University on Wednesday, February 10 (8:00 p.m.).