Bulldogs Break Thru with First-Ever Freedom Conference Championship

Junior Darnell Braswell (seen here dishing to Lapinski for a lay-up) averaged 21.5 points and 8.0 rebounds in the two playoff wins.

Box Score

BOX SCORE

Center Valley, PA (February 28, 2009) – They'll be making their second appearance in the NCAA Tournament, but it will be the first via an automatic bid as the DeSales University men's basketball team got the job done winning its first-ever Freedom Conference championship on Saturday afternoon, 72-58, over Manhattanville College in Billera Hall.

The win gives DSU (22-5 overall) the Freedom Conference's automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament with the pairings and first/second round sites to be announced on Monday afternoon. DeSales will be making their second appearance in the “Big Dance” with the first coming during the 1995-96 season. Details of the Bulldogs NCAA destiny will be available on Monday afternoon the DeSales website.

This game was tight thru the first 27 minutes before DeSales used an 18-3 run from the 13:13 mark of the second half to the 4:57 mark, extending a three-point advantage into an 18-point lead and never looked back from there.

After Manhattanville had trimmed a seven-point deficit down with an 8-0 run and its only lead of the second half (38-37), DSU went up six with seven quick points to lead 44-38. Three free throws from Glen Rodriguez on back-to-back possessionsmade it a three-point game (44-41) at the 13:13 mark when junior Darnell Braswell (Allentown, PA/William Allen) hit a three-pointer igniting the 18-3 game-clinching run sending DSU to its first-ever conference crown.

Junior Charles Princiotto (Woodcliff Lake, NJ/Pascack Hills) followed the Braswell three with a jumper, junior Rob Schubach (Center Valley, PA/Southern Lehigh) hit two huge three-pointers during the run, and six different Bulldogs scored including sophomore Brian Hunter (Allentown, PA/Emmaus) with four points to lead the way.

In the first half, the game went back and forth as team fought for the momentum. DSU opened up a 10-4 lead to start the game, before MVille used a 9-2 run to take its first lead, 13-12, at the 11:24 mark. The Valiants led 19-15 before used its own 9-2 run to reclaim the lead, 24-21, at the 7:33 points of the opening half. Tied at 30 with 2:19 to go, Braswell scored the final five points of the half giving the Bulldogs a 35-30 halftime cushion.

DeSales finished the game shooting 60.0 percent (24-of-40) from the field and enjoyed a 32-22 edge on the backboards. The Bulldogs also shot free throws extremely well, making 17-of-22 (77.3%) after converting just over 60.0% entering the game.

Braswell earned Freedom Conference Playoffs Most Valuable Player honors, totaling his sixth double-double of the season with 21 points and 10 boards. He averaged 21.5 points and 8.0 rebounds per game in the two playoff wins. Senior Ed Lapinski (Red Hill, PA/Upper Perkiomen) added his second straight double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds, while Hunter also scored in double figures with 12 points and four steals.

Junior Jim Malatesta (Warminster, PA/Archbishop Wood) totaled seven points and Princiotto was terrific in the second half as he finished with a career-high eight points, six of which came in the second half.

Freshman Trevoy Pointer scored a team-high 20 points, 18 in the first half, and senior Wesly Wicks had 17 points and three steals. Junior Angelo Laroche finished with nine points and 10 pulls for the Valiants.

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