Scranton, PA, (January 31, 2005) – The DeSales University men’s basketball team saw its three-game winning streak snapped on Monday evening as the University of Scranton defeated the Bulldogs, 73-57, in Freedom Conference action at the Long Center.

 

        The Bulldogs (14-5, 6-2 Freedom) stay in first place in the Freedom Conference despite the loss, but are now just one game ahead of several teams in the hunt for that coveted No. 1 seed.  Scranton improves to 14-4 overall and 5-3 in the Freedom with the win.  The Royals shot 51.1 percent from the floor as opposed to just 40.0 percent shooting for the Bulldogs.  DSU entered the game ranked among the national team leaders shooting 49.9 percent from the floor.

 

        DSU attempted 10 more shots than UofS, but Scranton shot 15 more charity tosses which proved to be the difference in the game.  Several Bulldogs spent much of the game in foul trouble as senior Kevin Welsh (Havertown, PA/Haverford) fouled out of the contest for the first time in his career in just 18 minutes played and freshman Phil Stricker (Womelsdorf, PA/Conrad Weiser) also committed five fouls in the loss.

 

        The game remained in doubt at the 9:18 mark of the first half as the two teams were tied for the fourth time at 19, but a 14-2 run over the next four minutes gave Scranton a 12-point lead at 33-21 and the Royals carried that momentum into the locker room for a 43-28 lead.

 

        In the second half the lead swelled to 23 points, 53-30, over the first three minutes before DSU made one last comeback attempt going on a 10-0 run to cut the margin to 13 points, 53-40.  Freshmen Eddie Ohlson (Allentown, PA/Parkland) and Michael McParlin (Pawtucket, RI/LaSalle Academy) each hit treys during the spurt.

 

        Scranton answered the run with a 12-1 spurt of its own over the next five minutes to push the lead up to 24 points, 65-41, and DeSales was unable to recover.

 

        Stricker was the lone Bulldog in double figures with 13 points in just 16 minutes played.  McParlin led the charge off the bench with nine points on three treys and junior Drew Christman (Whitehall, PA/Whitehall) also added nine tallies.

 

        Senior Brian O’Donnell scored a game-high 19 points and grabbed seven rebounds to lead Scranton.  Darren Cannon totaled 17 markers, Randy Arnold added 12 tallies and Mike McGowan poured in 10 points in the win.