Center Valley, PA, (January 19, 2005) – Senior David Spadt (Emmaus, PA/Emmaus) scored a career-high 23 points and the DeSales University men’s basketball team set a new team record for shooting percentage in a game as they defeated Delaware Valley College, 103-77, in Freedom Conference action on a blistery cold Wednesday night in Billera Hall.

 

        The Bulldogs (12-4, 4-1 Freedom) scored 100+ points for the second consecutive time over the Aggies (6-9, 1-4 Freedom) and set the new shooting mark by converting 67.2 percent (41-of-61) of its shot attempts.  DSU shot 63.3 percent in the first half and bettered that percentage by canning 71.0 percent in the second half.  The previous mark was 65.5 percent vs. Moravian College during the 1991-92 season.

 

        The Bulldogs opened up a 20-point lead in the first half (37-17) en route to a 16-point lead (52-36) at the break and held off a quick run in the middle of the second half to record the conference win.

 

        A 12-4 run at the start of the second half put the Aggies within 12 points, 62-50, with 15:36 left to play but Spadt came out of a DeSales timeout and scored the next seven points as the Bulldogs answered with a 14-2 run to push the lead up to 24 points, 76-52, and DSU never looked back.

 

        Spadt’s career-high came on 9-of-13 shooting from the field.  Freshman Phil Stricker (Womelsdorf, PA/Conrad Weiser) and senior Michael Venafra (Belmont Hills, PA/Lower Merion) each added 14 points and sophomore Steve Kriczky (Birdsboro, PA/Daniel Boone) scored a career-high 13 points off the bench in the win.

 

        In addition to the team record shooting percentage, DeSales also tied the record for assists in a game with 30.  Freshman Eddie Ohlson (Allentown, PA/Parkland) and junior Mike Zinn (Hanover, PA/Delone Catholic) each totaled six assists to lead the Bulldogs.

 

        The Aggies had three players in double figures including Orlon Baker with 17 points, Isaiah Pinckney with 13 points and Mike Ezell with 12 points.