BOX SCORE

Center Valley, PA (February 24, 2010) – The DeSales University men's basketball team got exactly what it wanted on Wednesday night, a chance to repeat as Freedom Conference champions, as the Bulldogs advanced to the Freedom Conference title game for the fourth straight year and will have a chance to win back-to-back titles after their 82-69 win over previous playoff nemesis King's College in Billera Hall.

The Bulldogs (21-5 overall) will stay at home and attempt to finish off its Freedom Conference season with a championship and its second straight trip to the NCAA Tournament on Saturday when they host a road tested Misericordia University, an 80-65 road winner over the #2 seed Eastern University, in Billera Hall with tip set for 3:00 pm. For those unable to attend you will be able to follow the game online via LIVE Stats and LIVE Audio. Both those links will be available on the DSU web site on game day.

On Wednesday, DeSales climbed a mountain that has all too often seen them fall short as the Bulldogs defeated King's for the first time in the playoffs after losing the previous three meetings, all of which came in the Freedom Conference Championship game. DSU used a terrific defensive effort in the second half and was on fire for virtually the entire game, shooting 53.2 percent from the field and 47.8 percent (11-for-23) from three-point land in the win. The Bulldogs also dominated the glass, out-rebounding King's, 34-23.

The first half was a back-and-forth battle that saw both teams shoot the ball very well. DSU converted 52.0 percent of its shots from the field and King's reciprocated that with a 51.7 percent effort, including five three-pointers to counteract DSU's seven treys.

King's broke a tie at 21 with six straight points, two three's from Dan Maguschak, and led 27-21, before the Bulldogs battled back to eventually tie the game at 38 at the break. King's continued to lead by four after a three-pointer from senior Mike Wagner at the 4:22 mark, but a three from senior Matt Zwetolitz (Whitehall, PA/Whitehall) and another one from senior Rob Schubach (Center Valley, PA/Southern Lehigh) with 13 seconds left tied the game as both teams headed for the locker rooms.

The two teams again jockeyed for control of the game at the start of the second half with the Bulldogs finally breaking thru. Leading by two, 49-47, at the 14:20 mark, senior Darnell Braswell (Allentown, PA/William Allen) hit a three-pointer from the left wing igniting a 10-2 run that put DSU up double digits for the first time all game with 10:34 left to play. Braswell had six of the 10 points during the run.

King's clawed back to within seven once more at the 5:05 mark but eight straight points including the first four from junior Brian Hunter (Allentown, PA/Emmaus) put a stop to that Monarch rally as DSU took its largest lead, 15 points, with 3:24 left to play and was perfect from the charity stripe down the stretch to provide the final margin.

Braswell had his ninth double-double of the season with a game-high 23 points and 10 rebounds, 16 of which came in the second half. Hunter and Schubach each had 12 points, while Zwetoltiz also reached double figures with 10 points and added four assists.

Senior Charles Princiotto (Woodcliff Lake, NJ/Pascack Hills) played well off the bench with five assists, senior Jim Malatesta (Warminster, PA/Archbishop Wood) returned after missing one game with an injured hand to score six points, sophomore Bob Zanneo (Philadelphia, PA/Father Judge) added eight points, and freshman Sean McPaul (Jackson, NJ/St. Rose) was outstanding, particularly in the first half when he scored eight points on a perfect shooting night.

Junior Kevin Conroy was terrific for the Monarchs, finishing with a team-high 22 points, while sophomore Kyle Stackhouse also played well with 13 points, seven rebounds, and two assists. Maguschak came off the bench to score 10 points in the loss.