DeSales University Athletics

The 1995-96 men's basketball team is being recognized as the first men’s basketball team to ever advance to the NCAA Tournament in school history. In 1995-96, DSU posted a 17-10 record and an 11-5 mark in the Pennsylvania Athletic Conference (PAC). The Bulldogs fell to Cabrini College in the PAC Tournament Championship game but earned an NCAA at-large berth for their first appearance in the “Big Dance,” falling to Wilkes University in the opening round.

As a team, DeSales finished the season ranked 18th among all NCAA Division III schools in free throw percentage, shooting 73.4 percent from the charity stripe. Individually, two athletes—Ed Kearney ’96 and Mike Mientus ’97 finished the season ranked among the national leaders. Kearney was 20th in field goal percentage (60.7%) and Mientus was 4th in blocks per game (3.6 BPG).

Three Bulldogs were named to the All-PAC Second-Team, including Kearney, Jason Moyer ’98, and Andy Stephens ’06. Moyer led the team in scoring, averaging 16.3 points per game and also led the team with 1.6 steals per game.

Stephens averaged 15.3 points per game and shot 83 percent from the free throw line. Kearney poured in 13.4 points per game, shot 60.7 percent from the field, and was tied for second on the team in rebounding, pulling down 5.9 rebounds per game. John Plachko ’98 averaged 10.1 points per game to round out the double digit scorers and was tied for second with Kearney in rebounding (5.9 RPG).

Greg Spang ’97 topped the team in assists, averaging 3.8 per game, while Mientus led the team in rebounding at 6.6 rebounds per game to go along with his 3.6 blocks per game.