CENTER VALLEY (PA) – For the second straight game, Delaware Valley College hit a 3-pointer in the closing seconds to win a Freedom Conference match-up - this time a long-range bomb from
Jason Goldheimer with 2.3 ticks to go in ovetime for an 82-79 triumph at two-time defending champion DeSales University.
The Aggies improved to 3-3 overall and 2-0 in conference action while the Bulldogs fell to 4-2 overall and 0-2 in the Freedom.
On Wednesday evening, Delaware Valley freshman Phil Jackson capped a seven-point rally in the final minute by hitting a 3-pointer in the left corner with 3.3 seconds remaining to down FDU-Florham. Three days later, it was Goldheimer's time to shine as the senior - like Jackson - received a pass from
James Jones in the left corner and drilled the game-winning bucket. It was the 12th made trey of the afternoon for Delaware Valley off of 26 attempts (46.2%).
Brian Hunter, who had a game-high 34 points for DeSales, got off a 3-point attempt before the final buzzer, but it hit off the front rim and the Aggies had the victory.
Delaware Valley built a 13-point lead in the first half before the Bulldogs closed to within seven, 30-23, at the break. DeSales made it a four-point game before Delaware Valley exploded for a 16-4 run and a 53-37 advantage with 13:23 remaining.
The Aggies still held a double-digit lead at 62-52 with 8:19 to go when DeSales scored 11 of the next 12 to make it a one-point contest with just over five minutes on the clock. The Bulldogs eventually tied the game at 67-67 with 2:34 remaining in regulation but Jones hit a layup a minute later for a 69-67 Aggie advantage. Jamey Bercier answered for DeSales with 65 seconds to go and both teams missed chances the rest of the way in regulation.
Delaware Valley scored the first four points of overtime, but the Bulldogs countered with five straight and their first lead since they scored the opening bucket of the game. The Aggies'
Nathan Bollinger hit a free throw and
Chris Ellis followed with a layup for a 76-74 lead. DeSales quickly tied it up and did so on two other occasions in the extra session before Goldheimer's heroics finally clinched the game for Delaware Valley.
Bollinger, a freshman, was 5-for-7 from 3-point land and finished with a career-high 25 points for the Aggies. Ellis finished with 15 points while Jones had 13 points, five rebounds and five assists.
Jeremy Beckett added six points and 11 rebounds while Goldheimer's trey at the end upped his scoring total to nine on the afternoon.
Hunter was 15-for-27 from the field, including a 4-for-7 effort from beyond the arc, for his 34 points. Bob Zanneo came off the bench to score 15 points for DeSales while Bercier finished with 10 points and 14 rebounds.