Madison, NJ (January 31, 2007) – The DeSales University men’s basketball team surrendered a 10-point halftime lead by shooting just 38.1 percent in the second half and eventually falling to Drew University, 56-53, in a Freedom Conference game on Wednesday evening in Baldwin Gymnasium.

 

        The Bulldogs (15-5, 6-3 Freedom) broke a tie at 14 early in the first half by outscoring the Rangers (8-11, 3-6 Freedom), 18-8, over the last 10 minutes of the first half.  Junior Eddie Ohlson (Allentown, PA/Parkland) hit a long three-pointer from beyond half court as the buzzer sounded to send DSU into the locker room feeling confident and up 10 points, 32-22.

 

        The second half was a different story as Drew showed no quit and shot 52 percent from the field in recording the Freedom Conference upset.  Leading by eight, 45-37, with nine minutes left on the clock, the Rangers started their comeback.  An 8-0 run over the next two minutes tied the game at 45 as senior Bob Carella hit a three-pointer and Scott Miller scored five straight points down on the low block.

 

        The game was back and forth over the next six minutes when Miller went to the line down one point and 1:09 on the clock for two free throws.  He connected on both and Drew staked itself to a 54-53 lead.  After a DSU timeout with 1:02 on the clock, Ohlson drove the lane and was fouled with 54 seconds left.  He missed both free throws and Drew secured the rebound.

 

        The Bulldogs played tough defense for the length of the shot clock and forced Chris Lopez into a tough jumper in the lane that was off the mark but the rebound bounced around and Lopez came up with the ball and was fouled in the process, hitting both charity tosses to make it a 56-53 game.

 

        DSU called timeout with 15 seconds left and Ohlson found sophomore Matt Zwetolitz (Whitehall, PA/Whitehall) at the top of the key for a good look at a three-pointer but the shot rimmed out.  Ohlson tracked down the rebound and the Bulldogs again called timeout with four seconds left.  On the ensuing play, DeSales was unable to get an open look at a shot as time expired.

 

        DeSales shot just 4-for-18 from three-point land including a 1-for-10 effort in the second half and lost for the first time all season when holding its opponent under 70 points on the scoreboard.  Senior Steve Kriczky (Birdsboro, PA/Daniel Boone) was the lone Bulldog in double digits with a game-high 16 points.  Junior Phil Stricker (Womelsdorf, PA/Conrad Weiser) had nine points and five rebounds.

 

        Carella and Miller carried the Rangers scoring 30 of the 56 points as they each tallied 15 points.  Carella was 6-for-7 from the field and knocked down 3-of-4 three-pointers.