MEN'S BASKETBALL: Delaware Valley University 76, Eastern University 73
ST. DAVID'S (PA) – The Delaware Valley University men's basketball team held on late for its second straight Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Freedom victory as it defeated Eastern University, 76-73, on the road.
The Aggies improved to 5-3 overall and 2-0 in conference play while the Eagles fell to 6-2 and 1-1.
The first 15 minutes of the contest were evenly matched as the two teams played to six ties with four lead changes, until DelVal took control with a 16-5 outburst to close the first half and take a 48-37 lead into the locker room.
The Aggies shot 18-for-28 (64.3%) from the field in the first half, fueled by 16 points from senior
Andre' Butler who went 6-for-6 from the field and 4-for-4 from deep. Freshman Terrance Johnson provided a nice spark off the bench as went a perfect 2-for-2 from the field, 1-for-1 from 3-point land, and 2-for-2 from the free throw line for seven points at the break.
In the second half, DelVal saw its lead diminished as Darius Washington hit a trey and tied the game at 58-58 with 8:17 left in regulation. Washington connected again for a fast-break layup off a steal and Clifton Adams tipped home a rebound as the Eagles outscored the Aggies 25-10 over the first 12 minutes and change of the second half to go up, 62-58.
Damian Washington, DelVal's big man, then scored seven straight points with an and-1 play and five consecutive free throws to put his team back on top, 65-64, with under five minutes left.
Michael Bowlers and Washington responded with two points apiece from the charity stripe as Eastern regained the lead, 68-65.
The Aggies fired back as senior
Alex Matsinye got free in the corner and knocked down a 3-pointer while being fouled in the act. He missed the chance at a four-point play and the game was knotted at 68-68 with 3:09 remaining.
The squads exchanged one-of-two efforts from the charity stripe before Bowlers fed Washington in the paint to give the Eagles a two point, 71-69 advantage. Down the other end, the Aggies Washington found
Mike Cianciulli and the sharp shooter hit from beyond the arc to flip the lead again and give DelVal a 72-71 lead with 2:13 on the clock.
With under a minute left, Eastern's big men hooked up in the paint as Pena fed Bowlers to make it 73-72, Eagles.
With less than 30 seconds on the clock, sophomore
Lybrant Robinson drove the lane and was fouled by Washington, and he hit both of his free throws to put DelVal back on top, 74-73. Eastern inbounded the ball from under its own basket and eventually worked it down low to Bowlers, but he was stripped clean by Butler and the Aggies hit two more from the charity stripe to earn the 76-73 victory.
Butler finished the game with 16 points and four steals including the game-winning take-away. Matsinye added 13 points and a team-high seven rebounds and Washington came off the bench to score 17 points. Robinson pitched in with 10 points and five boards and
Damani Myers dished out four assists. Cianciulli finished with nine points and three assists and Johnson finished with seven points.
The Aggies made 81.8-percent (18-of-22) of their free throws and shot 25-for-54 (46.3%) from the field including an 8-for-19 (42.1%) effort from beyond the arc.
The Eagles were led by 23 points from Washington and a double-double of 21 points and 10 assists from Pena. Bowlers punched in with 15 points and seven rebounds and Adams dished out a game-high eight assists to go with four steals and nine boards.
DelVal is off for 11 days as the student-athletes take on finals next week, and will play host to Bryn Athyn College on Wednesday, December 19 at 7 p.m.
