Wilkes-Barre, PA (February 3, 2007) – Four players reached double digits but a late rally and a chance to win the game at the end fell short as the DeSales University men’s basketball team dropped its second straight Freedom Conference game, 73-70, at King’s College on Saturday afternoon in Scandlon Gymnasium.

 

        Trailing by five on a jumper in the lane from junior Jamie Cousart with two minutes left, junior Phil Stricker (Womelsdorf, PA/Conrad Weiser) hit four straight free throws on consecutive possessions to cut the deficit down to one point, 71-70, with 16 seconds left.  On the ensuing possession, King’s struggled to get the ball inbounds and was called for a five-second violation and the Bulldogs regained possession with a chance to win the game.

 

        Following a timeout the ball was inbounded to junior Eddie Ohlson (Allentown, PA/Parkland) who swung the ball over to Kriczky.  Kriczky fired a fall away jumper that fell short.  The rebound bounced around and into the hands of Stricker who attempted a fall away 10-footer that also fell short and the Bulldogs were forced to foul with just 1.1 ticks left.  Senior Vince Sobocinski knocked down both free throws and a long shot at the buzzer sailed wide giving King’s the win.

 

        DeSales (15-6, 6-4 Freedom) took control early in the first half opening up 10-point lead twice before a 14-7 run by the Monarchs (14-7, 8-2 Freedom) tied the game at 37 at the half.  The game was back and forth most of the second half with King’s leading by eight twice before DSU closed the gap to one point in the closing seconds.

 

        The Bulldogs shot 52 percent from the field and canned 10-of-23 three-pointers, while the Monarchs out-rebounded DeSales, 32-26, and committed just 12 turnovers.  KC converted on eight three-pointers and finished the game shooting 44.8 percent from the field.

 

        Freshman Darnell Braswell (Allentown, PA/William Allen), who was 5-for-6 from downtown, and Kriczky led the way with 15 points each.  Stricker totaled 12 points and sophomore Matt Zwetolitz (Whitehall, PA/Whitehall) totaled 10 points and seven rebounds off the bench.  Ohlson had all nine of his points in the opening half and dished out 11 assists in the loss.

 

        King’s also had four players reach double digits including junior Kofi Dwebeng with 15 points, Cousart with 13 points and eight assists, senior Bob Nenstiel with 12 points off the bench and Sobocinski with 11 points.