Scranton, PA (January 20, 2007) – The University of Scranton used a 20-5 run midway thru the second half to record a 78-70 win over the DeSales University men’s basketball team in a Freedom Conference game at the Long Center on Saturday afternoon.

 

        The Bulldogs (12-4, 5-1 Freedom) led the entire first half and for the first six minutes of the second half before the Royals (14-3, 5-1 Freedom) took control and earned the conference win between two teams tied for first place heading into the day.  Scranton shot 57.1 percent from the field in the second half and hit on 47.4 percent of its three-point attempts for the game.

 

        With DeSales leading 50-45 at the 15:40 mark of the second half, the Royals started its game-clinching spurt with a jumper from Ryan Fitzpatrick.  Brendan Fuller followed the Fitzpatrick jumper with a lay-up and a three-pointer on back-to-back possessions giving UofS its first lead of the day, 52-50, with 13:01 to play.

 

        Leading by three, 58-55, at the 10:50 mark James Powell hit consecutive lay-ups and one free throw and Tom Bicknell converted a lay-up to give Scranton a double digit lead, 65-55, with 9:05 on the clock.  The lead never dropped below seven points the rest of the way as Scranton went 4-for-4 from the charity stripe over the last minute to post the final margin.

 

        DeSales had control of the first half leading by as many as eight points on three different occasions before settling for the final five point halftime lead.  The Bulldogs shot 53.6 percent in the opening half and hit four three-pointers en route to the locker room lead.  The Royals kept themselves in the game during the opening with six three-pointers including two each from Paul Hawk and Fitzpatrick.

 

        DSU was led by senior Sedale Walton (Levittown, PA/Harry S. Truman) and freshman Darnell Braswell (Allentown, PA/William Allen) who each totaled 14 points in the loss.  Juniors Eddie Ohlson (Allentown, PA/Parkland) and Phil Stricker (Womelsdorf, PA/Conrad Weiser) each had 11 points and sophomore Ed Lapinski (Red Hill, PA/Upper Perkiomen) came off the bench to total nine tallies.

 

        Bicknell led the Royals with a double-double of 20 points and 13 rebounds.  Fitzpatrick finished with 18 points on 7-of-9 shooting and Biagioli totaled 11 points.  Randy Arnold had a solid floor game with eight assists and three steals.