Center Valley, PA, (November 29, 2004) – The DeSales University men’s basketball team won its second straight game, 80-75, over College Misericordia in non-conference action on Monday evening in Billera Hall.

 

        Seniors Michael Venafra (Belmont Hills, PA/Lower Merion), Kyle Koch (Lehighton, PA/Lehighton) and David Spadt (Emmaus, PA/Emmaus) combined to score 47 of the 80 points to lead DeSales.

 

        The Bulldogs forced 12 Cougar turnovers in the first half and held a commanding nine point lead, 37-28, at intermission.  Koch led the first half charge with 12 points and Venafra added six.

 

        The second half saw DeSales commit 10 turnovers as the Bulldog lead was as many as 13 points but never higher as Misericordia would not surrender.  Miseri got within seven points once, 58-51, with 8:51 left to play but could not get any closer until the final three-pointer at the buzzer provided the final five-point margin. 

 

        The Bulldogs controlled the paint much of the game out-scoring CM, 38-12, in the lane and out-rebounding the Cougars, 38-27.  Misericordia shot 71.4 percent (10-of-14) from outside the arc to keep the score close in the second half.

 

        Venafra was 4-for-8 from three-point land and Koch added eight rebounds and four steals for DeSales.  Spadt also pulled down eight boards and had three steals, while senior Kevin Welsh (Havertown, PA/Haverford) handed out a career-high nine helpers.  Freshman Phil Stricker (Womelsdorf, PA/Conrad Weiser) scored in double digits for the second straight game with 10 points.

 

        Misericordia was led by Joshua McCabe who tallied a team-high 18 points off the bench and added four assists and three steals.  Michael Morak tallied 15 markers and Josh Kendrick added 14 tallies in the loss.