HOBOKEN (NJ)--- The Delaware Valley men's basketball team found themselves in a tough, back and forth Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Freedom game at Stevens, but wound up on the losing end, 65-60, in overtime.
The loss drops the Aggies into fifth place in the MAC Freedom at 8-6, while Stevens sits tied for second at 9-5 with Lycoming.
After a slow start to the game, which saw Stevens leading 6-4 four minutes in, the Aggies were able to get the offense going, as Edward Jones started a 6-0 run with a layup, followed by two buckets from Pernell Ghee to put the visitors in front 10-6, seven minutes in. Stevens controlled the game for the next four minutes, scoring the next 11 points to lead 17-10.
The game of runs continued, as the Aggies scored the next ten points, capped off by back-to-back three pointers by Ryan Black and Matt Paulus to make it 20-17 with 7:39 left in the first half. The two teams then went cold for over two minutes, as the next basket was a Ducks' bucket with 5:24 left.
The game stayed within one possession for the last five minutes of the half, as the lead changed twice before Stevens took a 32-29 lead into halftime.
Stevens shot 35% from the field (12-of-35) while hitting just 2-of-15 from beyond the arc. The Aggies struggled as well, going 32% from the floor (12-of-38) and connecting on just 3-of-12 attempts from three. Each team committed ten turnovers over the first 20 minutes.
A quick three to start the second half from Conor Coffey extend the Ducks' lead to 34-29, their largest lead since 17-12 midway through the first half. Godly Marc answered with a triple of his own, but Alec DiPietrantonio scored six straight points for the Ducks, as they grew their lead back to five at 39-34.
That lead would not hold for long, as Paulus answered with a three followed by a bucket from Black to knot the score up at 39, just under four minutes into the second half.
Over two minutes went by before Stevens went back in front with a triple from Maguire Sweeney. Stevens would then lead 45-41 with 12:22 left. Jordan Gombs sparked an Aggie run by knocking down one free throw before Ewens Lizima made a layup to trim the lead to 45-44. Francis Robles Montas followed up with a three pointer, putting DelVal in front 47-45 with 9:26 left, their first lead since 25-24 late in the first half.
The teams exchanged leads three times over the next 1:40, as Stevens held a 50-49 advantage. Black took the lead back for the Aggies with a triple and Robles-Montas extend the lead to four, 54-50, after a turnaround jumper with 5:32 left.
A Matt LaCorte three trimmed the lead to one and a layup by Matt Crowley with 3:53 left put Stevens in front 55-54. Robles-Montas tied it up by hitting a foul shot with just over three minutes left.
Each team had multiple chances to take the lead down the stretch, but couldn't connect, as Stevens shot 0-for-5 from the field and the Aggies went 0-for-3. With ten seconds left, the Aggies had a chance to get the final shot off, but tough defense from the Ducks prevented a field goal attempt until after the buzzer sounded, sending the game to overtime tied at 55.
Teams exchanged turnovers to start the extra frame before DiPietrantonio put the Ducks in front, 57-55. The hosts then led 59-56 before DiPietrantonio hit the only other field goal in overtime to extend the lead to five at 61-56. Four free throws from the Aggies and one from Stevens made it 62-60 with 28 seconds left. DelVal was forced to foul and Jack Spellman split a pair from the line to keep it at a one possession game, 63-60. With a chance to tie it, Robles-Montas put up a three pointer, but missed off the back iron, as Stevens held on for the 65-60 win.
The Aggies went 0-for-5 in overtime, with all their attempts coming from beyond the arc, while also committing two turnovers.
Matt LaCorte led all scorers with 22 points and 11 rebounds. DiPietrantonio scored 15 and also pulled in 11 boards.
Thomas Ibidapo paced the Aggies with 17 points and seven rebounds while Matt Paulus scored 10 points.
DelVal returns home Saturday, February 12th for a 3 p.m. tip-off against Wilkes.
