CENTER VALLEY, Pa. – Delaware Valley men's basketball saw its late lead slip away in an overtime MAC Freedom matchup, falling 77-69 to DeSales University on Saturday afternoon.
Antonio Redding opened the scoring with a three-pointer off the opening tip, assisted by Jake McGinty. Jeremiah Lee and Redding followed with back-to-back triples before Keppel answered for the Bulldogs to make it 9-5. Mike Herrin added a tip-in before a nearly five-minute scoreless stretch ended with a DeSales basket to cut the margin to two. Lee forced a steal and went coast-to-coast for a layup, followed by a Ryan Everett putback to regain momentum. McGinty then buried a three to push the Aggies ahead by 11 before Lee stopped a 9-0 Bulldogs run with another steal and score. Kamal Johnson connected from deep and Herrin added two buckets to give DelVal an eight-point advantage at the break.
Redding and Lee continued the Aggies' run early in the second half before Gladue sparked DeSales with a three and a three-point play. Herrin answered with a mid-range jumper and later slammed home a dunk to restore an 11-point lead with 16:38 remaining. The Bulldogs responded with an 8-0 run, highlighted by four points from Domingo. Johnson halted the surge, but DeSales continued to chip away at the free-throw line following a media timeout. Lee knocked down a clutch three, assisted by Redding, with just over five minutes remaining to preserve an eight-point cushion. Everett and Lee added back-to-back baskets as DeSales scrambled to keep pace.
Herrin converted two free throws late, but Keppel drilled a three with 10 seconds left, and the Aggies missed a pair at the line. DeSales secured the rebound and Glassmacher finished in transition to tie the game and force overtime.
McGinty opened the extra frame with a three, but turnovers plagued DelVal down the stretch. The Bulldogs capitalized at the free-throw line, pulling away for the 77-69 victory.
Following the loss, the Aggies fall to 8-11 overall and 2-6 in MAC Freedom play. DelVal returns home for the first time in two weeks on Wednesday, Feb. 4, hosting FDU-Florham at 7:00 p.m.
