DOYLESTOWN (PA) – Chris Moran notched 29 points, nine rebounds and four steals as Delaware Valley University snapped a three-game losing streak with a crucial, 72-60 home victory over Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) foe Wilkes University.
The win improved the Aggies to 17-6 overall and 8-4 in conference action. They are still in sole possession of second place in the MAC Freedom, just one game behind DeSales University with two regular-season contests remaining. DelVal can clinch a conference tournament berth with either a win at King's (5-7 MAC Freedom) on Tuesday, February 16 or a loss on Tuesday by either Manhattanville at DeSales or Wilkes at FDU-Florham. Wilkes fell to 11-12 overall, 6-6 and tied with Manhattanville for fourth place in the league. The top four teams advance to the conference tournament.
The Aggies came flying out with pressure all over the court. They forced 12 turnovers in the first eight minutes, many of which led to transition baskets at the other end. After the teams exchanged hoops in the first 50 seconds, DelVal scored the next 14 points and 21 of 22 for a 23-3 advantage. Five different players scored for the Aggies, including Moran who had 10.
DelVal kept the pressure up and increased its lead to as many as 21 in the half. The Aggies eventually led 42-26 in the break as they had 14 steals on 18 Colonel miscues. They held a 21-3 advantage in points off turnovers and a 10-0 advantage in fast break points. Moran had 18 at halftime while Marcus Robinson scored 14 of Wilkes' 26 points.
The Colonels broke the press early in the second half and pulled to within 12 before Moran had a three-point play to make it a 55-40 ballgame with 13:40 remaining. Wilkes then went on an 8-0 run to pull to within seven at the halfway point of the stanza. The Aggies bumped the lead back up to 10 on a pair of occasions before a pair of free throws from the Colonels' Connor Evans with 2:13 to go made the score 64-59.
DelVal came back down and Tyliek Kimbrough hit a crucial pull-up jumper with 1:57 left. Wilkes hit one free throw, but Kimbrough hit a pair at the line and late added two more in four attempts for a 70-60 lead with less than a minute to go. Barry Brockington sank two from the charity stripe with 34 seconds remaining for the 12-point win.
Moran was 10-for-18 from the field and 8-for-11 from the foul line in 38 minutes of action. He also moved into 11th place on the school's all-time list with 1,250 career points. Brockington was a perfect 7-for-7 from the line and finished with 11 points and four steals. Kimbrough ended the night with 10 points and six boards while Andre' Butler added nine points in the win.
Robinson paced the Colonels with 19 points and seven rebounds. Steve Stravinski hit for 13 points, leaving him four shy of 1,000 for his career.