PURCHASE (NY) – The Delaware Valley University men's basketball team built a 13-point, second-half lead before host Manhattanville College stormed back to edge the Aggies, 67-63, in a Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Freedom game.

The Valiants picked up their first conference win as they improved to 7-9 overall and 1-4 in the MAC Freedom. DelVal dropped to 2-14 and 0-5.

The Aggies trailed for the first 14 minutes of the game before Damian Washington came off the bench and sank back-to-back 3-pointers for a 25-21 advantage. Willie Britton followed with a pair of free throws for a four-point lead. After a Manhattanville layup, Washington struck again from downtown and his nine points in the opening half helped give DelVal a 34-27 lead at the break.

Consecutive layups by Austin Stoeckel, Andre' Butler and Britton in the first 98 seconds of the second half upped the Aggie advantage to 13. DelVal still held a double-digit lead with 16 minutes remaining as Britton, a transfer from Manhattanville, drilled a trey in his old gym for a 45-35 score.

However, the Valiants responded with seven straight points and they eventually regained the lead just past the midway point of the half at 54-52. Alex Matsinye quickly tied it up with a layup and it was deadlocked again at 59-59 following a Washington layup with 4:45 left.

Alex Tuci gave Manhattanville the lead for good 70 seconds later as he sank a pair of free throws. JoJo Cobbs followed with a layup before Britton made it a one-possession game with one free throw with 59 ticks to go. The Aggies then got a steal near the Valiant basket, but turned the ball right back over. Manhttanville hit three foul shots down the stretch before a Lybrant Robinson trey just before the buzzer made it a 67-63 final.

DelVal outshot the Valiants (40.7% to 37.1%) from the field and led in second-chance points (16-8) and bench points (24-14). However, Manhattanville hit seven treys in the game (four by the Aggies) and turned 21 DelVal miscues into 23 points. The Aggies had just six points off of 11 Valiant turnovers.

Britton led DelVal with 14 points. Butler contributed 11 points, 13 rebounds and five assists. Washington finished with 11 points and five boards while Matsinye had nine points, eight rebounds and five steals.

Cobbs led all players with 21 points. Tuci added 16 points and nine rebounds in the win.

The Aggies will host FDU-Florham for a MAC Freedom game on Saturday, January 20 (3 p.m.).