Reading, PA (November 20, 2009) – With 9:41 left in the game the 7th ranked DeSales University men's basketball team had a 10-point lead but an 18-3 run over the next five minutes put The College of New Jersey up five and the Lions held on for a 76-71 upset win over the Bulldogs in the opening round of the Albright College Tip-off Tournament on Friday evening at the Bollman Center.

The loss is the first of the season for the Bulldogs as they fall to 1-1 overall, while the Lions improve to 3-0. TCNJ blistered the nets in the second half, shooting 53.8 percent and 80.0 percent (4-of-5) from outside the arc to earn the win. DSU hurt itself with 19 turnovers and at the foul line where the Bulldogs converted just 57.7 percent (15-for-26) for the game.

DeSales came out sluggish as TCNJ took a 16-9 advantage on three free throws by Will Manhart at the 11:00 minute mark. The lead grew to eight points twice before DSU closed to within one, 30-29, with 1:22 remaining on a jumper from senior Darnell Braswell (Allentown, PA/William Allen). The Lions, however, scored the final five points of the half to lead by six at the break including a three-pointer at the halftime buzzer by Jay Frank.

The first 10+ minutes of the second half was all DeSales. They dominated the Lions, turning a six-point halftime deficit into a 10-point lead, 58-48, at the 9:41 mark. DSU held TCNJ scoreless for the first 4:44 of the half and out-scored the Lions 29-13 to begin the half. Braswell and junior Brian Hunter (Allentown, PA/Emmaus) did most of the damage with 18 of the 29 points including 11 from Braswell and seven from Hunter.

TCNJ did not need much time getting back into the game, using a 10-0 run over the next 2:15 to tie the game at 58 and eventually took a five point lead, outscoring DSU, 18-3 over a span of 4:51 to lead, 66-61, at the 4:50 mark. During that stretch, DSU went just 1-for-5 from the field with five turnovers.

Trailing 68-62 at the 4:21 mark the Bulldogs showed a little fight as Braswell started a 6-0 run that tied the game at 68 with 1:33 to go after two free throws from senior Jim Malatesta (Warminster, PA/Archbishop Wood). The Lions' Aaron Syvertsen had the answer though, hitting his fifth trey of the game on the next possession to put TCNJ up three with 1:18 left.

A missed three on the other end saw Frank sent to the line where he canned both freebies to push the lead to five with 56 ticks left. Hunter made 1-of-2 on the other end as the Bulldogs grabbed the board on the second miss, but a lay-up attempt was blocked and three-pointer by Braswell was off the mark, sending TCNJ to the line with 32 seconds left.

The Lions kept the Bulldogs alive with a missed free throw and Hunter capitalized with a lay-up but missed the free throw to go with the basket and DSU was forced to foul. TCNJ was again off the mark but after a DeSales defensive rebound, the Bulldogs turned the ball over with 17 seconds left and this time Frank stepped to the line knocking down both to make it a 75-71 game. Hunter missed on two free throws with 14 seconds left and after one free throw the Lions, senior Rob Schubach (Center Valley, PA/Southern Lehigh) was off the mark on late three-pointer as time expired on DeSales.

Braswell led the way with 22 points and eight rebounds for the Bulldogs, while Hunter added 14 points and three assists. Junior Nicholas Rossignoli (Reading, PA/Reading Central Catholic) played well off the bench with nine points.

DSU had no answer on the defensive end for Syvertsen who totaled 25 points on 10-of-16 shooting (5-of-8 from three-land). Steven Siracusa came off the bench to record a double-double with 16 points and 12 rebounds, while Frank finished with 14 points and was a clutch 7-of-8 from the free throw line.

The Bulldogs will return to action tomorrow at 6:00 pm for the consolation game with the loser of the other first round game between host Albright College and Berkeley College at the Bollman Center.