SWARTHMORE, PA. – The Delaware Valley men's basketball team put together a second-half push to close the gap against Swarthmore, but the Garnets held on down the stretch to hand the Aggies a 77-70 road loss on Saturday night.
Swarthmore entered the matchup looking to build on a 30-point victory the previous night, while Delaware Valley was searching for its first win of the season after suffering a heartbreaking one-point loss on Friday.
The Aggies won the opening tip and got on the board with an early jumper from Brian Mordi. Kamal Johnson followed with a deep three-pointer as Delaware Valley's defense forced Swarthmore into several perimeter attempts during the opening minutes. The Garnets responded by finding opportunities inside and matching the Aggies basket for basket.
Delaware Valley struggled to capitalize at the free-throw line, converting just 3-of-10 attempts in the first half, while Swarthmore connected on 80% of its opportunities. Jeremiah Lee provided a spark offensively, leading the Aggies with 14 points and six rebounds before the break. The Garnets closed the half with a layup in the final seconds to take a 38-30 advantage into the locker room.
Swarthmore carried its momentum into the second half, pushing the pace and forcing Lee into his third foul of the game. Johnson answered with a defensive takeaway, pushing the ball ahead to Brandon Bradford for a layup. However, the Garnets continued to find success on the offensive glass, turning second-chance opportunities into baskets to maintain their advantage.
Johnson helped spark the Aggies' comeback midway through the half. After drawing a hard foul on a drive to the basket with 12:57 remaining, he converted both free throws. He followed with a three-pointer and another steal as Delaware Valley continued to chip away at the deficit.
Lee and Zach Smith added timely baskets to fuel a 12-2 Aggies run that brought Delaware Valley within one point, putting the visitors back within striking distance.
With both teams in the bonus with six minutes remaining, Swarthmore found its rhythm at the free-throw line and made key plays down the stretch to preserve the seven-point victory. Despite the loss, Delaware Valley outscored the Garnets in the second half.
Lee paced the Aggies with 19 points and nine rebounds, finishing just one board shy of a double-double. Johnson added 15 points, while Mordi contributed two blocks to lead the defensive effort.
Delaware Valley returns home on Wednesday, November 11, to host Penn State Abington. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. in Doylestown.
