Box Score BOX SCORE
Center Valley, Pa. (November 28, 2007) – The DeSales University men's basketball team jumped out to a 12-0 lead and never really looked back cruising past PSU-Berks, 84-50, in a non-conference game on Wednesday evening in Billera Hall.
The win is the fourth straight for the Bulldogs (4-0 overall) this season and the seventh straight dating back to last season, while the loss drops the Nittany Lions to 0-5 overall. The victory is also the 15th straight for DeSales at home dating back to last season when they won its last 13 in Billera Hall and have won its first two this season.
DSU finished the game shooting 45.7 percent from the field and out-rebounding PSU-Berks, 45-33. The Bulldogs had 26 second chance points and canned eight three-pointers. The Nittany Lions shot just 32.8 percent and committed 16 turnovers in the loss. DeSales has now held all four of its opponents this year under 60 points and are allowing just 52.2 points per game.
The game was broken up for good midway thru the first half when a 14-4 Bulldog run pushed a five-point lead into a 15-point cushion at the 6:27 mark. During the run sophomore Rob Schubach (Center Valley, PA/Southern Lehigh) hit two three-pointers and had eight points, while fellow sophomore Jim Malatesta (Warminster, PA/Archbishop Wood) added four points during the spurt.
The lead stood at 21 points at the half after freshman Eddie Ward (Dallastown, PA/Dallastown) hit back-to-back three pointers in the last minute of the opening half to push the lead up to 21 tallies. The advantage peaked at 40 points, 83-43, at the 3:06 mark before the final 34-point margin was posted.
Senior Phil Stricker (Womelsdorf, PA/Conrad Weiser) recorded the first double-double of the season and the ninth of his career with 17 points and 10 rebounds. Junior Ed Lapinski (Red Hill, PA/Upper Perkiomen) also reached double digits with 11 points and pulled down nine boards. Sophomore Darnell Braswell (Allentown, PA/William Allen) and Ward each had nine points, while Schubach finished with eight tallies to lead a balanced attack.
The Nittany Lions were led by Donnell Giles with 11 points as the lone player in double digits.
The Bulldogs return to action on Saturday and Sunday when they travel to Bridgewater College (VA) for a tournament. DSU will take on Eastern Mennonite University in the first game on Saturday at 8:00 pm and play host Bridgewater College on Sunday at 4:00 pm.
