Men's Basketball 1/4/2009 7:48:13 PM BJ Spigelmyer - DeSales SID

#25 Bulldogs Upset by SUNY-Brockport, 61-49, in Casa Mia Final

Senior Ed Lapinski had his third double-double of the season on Sunday.

Box Score

BOX SCORE (Consolation)

BOX SCORE (Championship)

Center Valley, PA (January 4, 2009) – The 25^th ranked DeSales University men's basketball team entered the day 13-0 all-time in the Casa Mia Holiday Tournament but saw both that unblemished record as well as its perfect 9-0 record this season come to an end with a 61-49 loss to SUNY-Brockport in the championship game of the Casa Mia Holiday Tournament on Sunday afternoon.

The Bulldogs (9-1 overall) scored just 19 second-half points, converted only 23.3 percent (7-for-30) of its shot attempts in the second half, and finished the game shooting just 32.7 percent (16-for-49) from the field. Meanwhile, Brockport (3-4 overall) hit big shot after big shot over the final 12+ minutes turning a 40-39 deficit around with a 22-9 run to end the game and record the upset road win.

The first half was back-and-forth as the Golden Eagles hit six of their first eight shots to build a 17-11 lead but missed their next 10 shots as DSU used a 10-0 run to take a 21-17 lead at the 6:14 mark. Both teams traded blows over the final six minutes before the Bulldogs settled for a two-point (30-28) edge on the scoreboard.

The start of the second half was more of the same with each team answering the other's scoring and when freshman Matt McManus (Malvern, PA/Malvern Prep) hit a three-pointer from the top of the key at the 14:16 mark, DSU had built a three-point lead, 38-35.

After another McManus jumper regained the lead for the Bulldogs at the 12:18 mark, but DeSales went cold and never recovered from that point. Only trailing by two points at the 10 minute mark, DSU went just 4-for-16 from the field over the final portion of the contest and Brockport continued to hit big shots on what seemed to be every possession to knock DeSales from the ranks of the unbeaten.

Senior Ed Lapinski (Red Hill, PA/Upper Perkiomen) recorded his third double-double of the season with 13 points and 14 rebounds, while junior Darnell Braswell (Allentown, PA/William Allen) finished with a game-high 15 points in the loss. Both Lapinski and Braswell were named to the All-Tournament team.

The Golden Eagles were led by Eamon Kays with 13 points and six rebounds and Ian Mack with 10 points, six rebounds, and six assists. Mack was named the Tournament's Most Valuable Player and Kays also earned All-Tournament honors. Joel Almeida and Mychal Wilkes also reached double digits with 13 and 11 points respectively.

In the consolation game, Immaculata University held off a late rally from John Jay College to record a 64-62 win. Kyle Finklea had 16 points and was named to the All-Tournament team for the Mighty Macs, while Chris Jaeger recorded a double-double with 19 points and 14 rebounds in the loss for the Bloodhounds. Jaeger was named to the All-Tournament team as well for John Jay.

The Bulldogs will return to action on Wednesday, January 7^th as they return to Freedom Conference action hosting Eastern University in Billera Hall at 8:00 pm. For those unable to attend, you can follow the game online via LIVE Stats or LIVE Audio.

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