DeSales to Face UMASS-Dartmouth in NCAA “Sweet 16”

Sophomore Brian Hunter has a team-high 115 assists and 52 steals this year.

TOURNAMENT WEBPAGE

Center Valley, PA (March 10, 2009) – The DeSales University men's basketball team will continue their run towards a National Championship this weekend when the Bulldogs take on UMASS-Dartmouth in the “Sweet 16” round of the NCAA Tournament at 6:00 pm on Friday evening at Franklin & Marshall College.

The Bulldogs (24-5 overall) will be the first of two games at the Mayser Center on Friday night with the host Franklin & Marshall College taking on Salem State College in the second game at 8:00 pm. The two winners will meet on Saturday night at 7:00 pm for the right to advance to the Final Four next weekend in Salem, VA.

For those unable to attend there will be several options for you to follow the game online. You can find links to LIVE stats, LIVE Audio, and LIVE Video at the tournament web page link posted above the top of this story.

This marks the second time DeSales has been in the NCAA Tournament with the first appearance coming during the 1995-96 season. The Bulldogs are now 2-1 all-time in NCAA play after their first round win over St. Joseph's College (LI), 86-78, and the second round win over Ithaca College, 77-71.

Leading the way has been junior Darnell Braswell (Allentown, PA/William Allen) averaging a team-best 16.9 points per game and 7.7 rebounds per game. He had 27 points and 13 boards in the win over Ithaca on Saturday, has eight double-doubles on the season and one in each of the last three games.

Senior Ed Lapinski (Red Hill, PA/Upper Perkiomen) is second in scoring at 13.6 points per game and averaging a team-high 9.3 boards per game. Lapinski has nine double-doubles on the year and one in each of the last four games. Also averaging double digits is junior Brian Hunter (Allentown, PA/Emmaus) at 10.7 points per game. Hunter has a team-high 115 assists and 52 steals and has done a tremendous job at the point all season.

Head Coach Scott Coval is in his 16^th season and has amassed a career record of 280-149 (.653). He was named the Freedom Conference Coach of the Year for the second straight season and for the fourth time in his career last week.

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