Braswell’s Heroics Lift Bulldogs Past Muhlenberg, 59-57

Braswell's lay-up with nine seconds left lifted DeSales past Muhlenberg on Monday night.

Box Score

BOX SCORE

Center Valley, PA (February 9, 2009) – Junior Darnell Braswell (Allentown, PA/William Allen) scored nine of his 17 points over the last five minutes including a silly off-balance lay-up with nine seconds left erasing a seven-point deficit and lifting the DeSales University men's basketball team past local rival Muhlenberg College, 59-57, in a non-conference game on Monday evening.

Braswell got the job done when it mattered on Monday night. With the Bulldogs trailing by seven (55-48) with five minutes left he went to work on the offensive end and did just enough to give DSU the win. A free throw started the run and junior Rob Schubach (Center Valley, PA/Southern Lehigh) cut the margin down to four points with two more charity tosses at the 4:25 mark.

DeSales, who went to a zone defense around the five minute mark, started to frustrate the Mules who struggled to find open looks in the Bulldogs zone. Consecutive stops on defense gave DSU possession and Braswell was fouled rebounding his own miss, this time hitting both freebies to make it a 55-53 game with 2:36 remaining.

A missed triple by Zachary Rosenberg was rebounded by junior Peter Barnes who was fouled but he missed both free throws and Braswell was fouled going to the hoop on the other end. He knocked down 1-of-2 to cut the deficit down to just one point with 2:07 to go. The Mules turned the ball over on the next possession and with the shot clock winding down on DeSales' ensuing possession, Braswell let loose on a deep three-ball from the top of the key that hit nothing but nylon, giving DSU its first lead (57-55) since the 15:04 mark of the second half.

This time Muhlenberg had an answer on offense as Chris MacIntosh hit a nifty running one-hander in the lane to tie the score at 57 all with 39 seconds left. DSU called timeout with about three seconds difference on the shot clock and decided to play for just one shot. Braswell got the ball on the left wing, dribbled once, spun away from his defender and took it to the hoop where he was met by the 6-9 Barnes. He hung in the air, waited, and flicked the ball off the backboard with his off hand as the rock rolled thru giving DSU a 59-57 lead.

The Mules dribbled the length of the court and a Barnes desperation jumper as time expired was well short. DeSales improves to 18-3 overall with the win, while Muhlenberg falls to 12-9 overall. The Bulldogs won this game on the defensive end once again as they held their seventh straight opponent to 60 points or less. The Mules shot the ball very well converting 44.6 percent but committed 16 turnovers and were just 1-of-4 from the free throw line. MC went 5-for-11 from three-point land in the first half to build a six-point edge at the break but made just 1-of-11 deep balls in the second stanza.

This game was back and forth throughout the entire night featuring seven ties and five lead changes. DSU charged out of the gates opening up a 17-9 lead on a reverse lay-up from Schubach. The Mules countered with a long 21-5 run to take its largest lead, 30-22, with 3:32 to go in the opening half before taking its six-point lead into the locker room.

The start of the second half saw DSU re-take the lead, 39-36, with a13-4 run to start the half, but MC took control of the game with 17-7 spurt before the Bulldogs finished off the game by outscoring MC, 13-4, over the final six minutes.

Braswell finished with a game-high 17 points and added four steals, while Schubach also reached double figures with 10 points off the bench. Sophomore Brian Hunter (Allentown, PA/Emmaus) had seven points and dished out five assists and senior Ed Lapinski (Red Hill, PA/Upper Perkiomen) and junior Jim Malatesta (Warminster, PA/Archbishop Wood) led the way with seven boards each.

Mike Bernadini led the Mules with a team-high 12 points off the bench as the lone double digit scorer. Barnes added eight points and seven rebounds and Rosenberg also tallied eight points.

The Bulldogs return to action and to Freedom Conference play on Wednesday when they take to the road at King's College. Tip is set for 8:00 pm. You can follow along via LIVE Stats if you are unable to attend.

Print Friendly Version