Men’s Hoops Survives at Centenary, 82-80

Bulldogs Start Season 7-0 for First Time; Set Road Win Streak with Seventh Straight Victory

Sophomore Brian Hunter scored a season-high 22 points in the win at Centenary.

Box Score

BOX SCORE

Hackettstown, NJ (December 10, 2008) – The starting backcourt of junior Darnell Braswell (Allentown, PA/William Allen) and sophomore Brian Hunter (Allentown, PA/Emmaus) combined for half (41) of the Bulldogs 82 points leading the DeSales University men's basketball team past Centenary College (NJ), 82-80 in a non-conference game on Wednesday evening.

The Bulldogs (7-0 overall) had a chance to ice the game at the foul line with seven seconds left but Hunter missed the front end of a one-and-one before a running jumper on the other end came up short as senior Ed Lapinski (Red Hill, PA/Upper Perkiomen) secured the rebound with the win as time expired.

DSU had control of this game mid-way thru the first half when they used a 25-4 run over a span of 7 ½ minutes to erase an early nine-point deficit (16-7) to take a 16-point lead (45-29) at the 3:30 mark. Six different Bulldogs scored in the spurt including Hunter with six and Lapinski with four. Braswell hit a three concluding the run to give DSU its largest lead of the game.

DSU continued to lead by 12 at the 16:18 mark of the second half before the Cyclones (4-4 overall) began chipping away at the lead. After a lay-up from Braswell made it a nine-point game at the 14:06 mark, Centenary went on a 16-6 run over the next five minutes to take a 68-67 lead with 8:52 to go.

Hunter answered CC's first lead since early in the opening half with a lay-up and freshman Matt McManus (Malvern, PA/Malvern Prep) added another lay-in on the next possession giving the Bulldogs a three-point cushion with six and a half minutes left.

CC refused to go away however as back-to-back layups from Rob Urie and Andrew Baker gave the hosts a 74-73 lead with 4:42 remaining. The two teams traded baskets over the next few minutes and with DeSales leading by two and in possession of the ball with just under a minute left, the Cyclones decided to foul Braswell with 46 ticks left.

Braswell knocked down both freebies making it a four point game, but Baker converted another lay-up and was fouled but missed the free throw with a chance to make it a one-point game. Hunter was fouled on the ensuing inbounds play and also knocked down both charity tosses to push the lead back to four, but once again Baker hit a lay-up on the other end with 10 seconds left and Hunter was again fouled on the inbounds pass setting up the end of the game as DSU escaped with its sixth road win of the season.

The win is the seventh straight on the road for the Bulldogs dating back to last season which is the team record for most consecutive road wins in DSU program history. The 7-0 start to the season also marks the first time in the program's history DeSales has won its first seven games of a season. Both team shot lights out on Wednesday with Centenary converting at a 54.8 percent clip and DSU canning 50.8 percent.

Hunter finished with a season-high 22 points and added five assists and five steals, while Braswell had 19 points and pulled down seven boards. Lapinski finished with 12 points and eight rebounds and junior Rob Schubach (Center Valley, PA/Southern Lehigh) added eight points.

Baker registered a double-double with 21 points and 14 boards, Will Atkinson added 22 points, Ryan Kearney totaled 21 points and six assists and Urie had 11 points in the loss.

DSU returns to action on Saturday when they host Elizabethtown College in a non-conference game beginning at 3:00 pm. The game can be followed online via LIVE Stats or LIVE audio by clicking on the appropriate link.

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