DALLAS (Pa.) – The Delaware Valley University men's basketball team placed four players in double-figure scoring and played consistent team basketball to earn its second Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Freedom win in a row with an 86-72 triumph at Misericordia University.
The Aggies improved to 6-3 overall and 2-0 in league play while the Cougars fell to 2-5 and 1-1.
DelVal raced out to a 16-2 lead after the first eight minutes of regulation behind a combined 12 points from senior guards Matt Paulus and Nestor Diaz. Misericordia was 0-for-7 from the field in that stretch and turned the ball over seven times.
The Aggies continued to pour it on the rest of the half as it led by as many as 18 and took a 42-29 lead into the break. They shot 17-for-38 from the field and hit 5-of-12 treys as Paulus had 14 at the half. The defense stifled the Cougars to the tune of a 9-for-33 shooting performance and nine turnovers in the first 20 minutes.
Misericordia opened the second half with a 7-2 run to pull within single digits, 44-36, three minutes into the stanza.
The team's went shot-for-shot over the next five minutes before a 3-pointer from Francis Robles-Montes with 12:02 on the clock got the DelVal lead back to double digits at 58-48.
A 5-1 burst from Misericordia closed the deficit to six, 59-53, the slimmest margin of the half. The Aggies quickly responded with a 16-7 run over the next 5:15 of play to open up a 75-59 lead with under five remaining to put the game away. Jordan Gombs led the charge with six points and DelVal's defense closed the door with three steals and five forced turnovers.
The team shot over 47-percent in the second half en route to the double-digit victory.
Senior Pernell Ghee shot 9-of-18 from the field and a perfect 5-for-5 from the free throw line to lead DelVal with 24 points and eight rebounds. Paulus followed with 17 points, including three treys, to go with four helpers while Diaz contributed 10 points, four boards, and three steals. Gombs also reached double figures with 12 points and seven rebounds.
Nate Kretizer led all players in scoring with a 29 points for the Cougars. He poured in five 3-pointers and went 8-for-11 from the line. Nick Hornung (14 points, 11 reb.) and Kevin Lazdowsky (13 reb., 10 points) each recorded double-doubles for the home team.
The Aggies will look to make it three in a row when it takes on Arcadia University in their 10th straight road game of the season. Tip off is set for 8 p.m. on Wednesday, December 8.
