DOYLESTOWN (Pa.) – Junior forward
Damian Washington scored a career-high 44 points, but the Delaware Valley University men's basketball team could not hold off visiting FDU-Florham as it came-from-behind to claim the 77-70 Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Freedom triumph.
The Aggies (5-10, 1-4 MAC Freedom) fed Washington early and often in the first stanza and the forward produced 14 of the team's first 17 points through the first 7:10 of regulation, and DelVal held a nine-point lead.
He finished the first half with 26 points and the Aggies took their largest lead of the game into the break, 41-26. Washington was 13-for-18 from the field with five rebounds through the first 20 minutes and senior
Mike Cianciulli had a pair of treys for six points.
Defensively, DelVal held the Devils (7-9, 2-3 MAC Freedom) to 10-of-26 shooting from the field and 4-for-12 from beyond the arc in the first half. The Aggies also held a significant, 22-4, advantage on the glass.
FDU-Florham stormed all the way back to take a two-point lead with a 23-6 run over the first 7:20 of the second half. Oliver Ortman and Andy Fleurantin combined for 18 points to lead the charge.
Washington converted a pair of free throws to tie the game at 49-49, but the Devils came right back with a 19-8 run to take their largest lead of the game, 68-57, with 6:51 left in regulation.
Washington led DelVal back to within one as he led an 11-1 run with eight points to make it 69-68 with under two minutes to play.
Down the other end, Kenneth LaRocca hit a big corner-three to put FDU-Florham up four, and it never looked back as it held on for the seven-point victory.
Washington's 44-point night ties the second most points in a single-game in program history as he finished the night 19-for-31 from the field, 5-for-7 from the line, and 1-for-1 from 3-point land. He also led all players in boards with 13 and added a blocked shot. Cianciulli followed with eight points and
Nestor Diaz pitched in five with eight assists and seven rebounds.
Fleurantin and Ortman finished with 22 and 21 points, respectively, and LaRocca added 19. DelVal won the battle of the rebounds, 45-22.
The Aggies will look to get back to their winning ways on Saturday at King's College with a 1 p.m. tip-off.
