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Wilkes-Barre, PA (February 14, 2012) – Sophomore Kyle Hash calmly sank two free throws with 0.8 seconds left lifting the DeSales University men's basketball team past Wilkes University, 61-59, to move DeSales into a tie for second place with the Colonels entering the final regular season game of the year on Tuesday evening at the Marts Center.

The win gives the Bulldogs (15-9, 8-5 Freedom) a chance at earning as high as the #2 seed in the Freedom Conference playoffs, needing a win at Eastern University on Saturday and a King's College win over Wilkes (15-8, 8-5 Freedom) to finish as the #2 seed and earn a home playoff game.

DSU clinches no worse than the #3 seed with a win over Eastern and could still make the playoffs with a loss but would need FDU-Florham to lose at Delaware Valley College to earn a playoff spot if Eastern defeats the Bulldogs.

DeSales dominated the first 14 minutes of the second-half on Tuesday, erasing a three-point halftime deficit, taking its first lead since 5-3 at the 17:30 mark (34-33).  Both teams traded baskets over the next five minutes as neither team led by more than one point before a three-pointer from senior Bob Zanneo with 12:15 left gave the Bulldogs a 45-41 lead.

The Bulldogs continued to slowly build its lead, scoring four straight points with just over six minutes left to take their largest lead, 59-49, with 6:10 remaining.

Then DeSales went cold.

Two free throws from sophomore Mike Coleman at the 6:10 mark was the last time DSU would score until Hash's free throws with 0.8 left.  Wilkes slowly chipped away at the lead and finally tied the game at 59 with 1:35 remaining on a nice inside move from Kendall Hinze.

The Bulldogs had possession but a three-pointer at the end of the shot clock from Coleman was off the back iron with 49 seconds left as Wilkes grabbed the rebound, advanced the ball across half court and called timeout.

Out of a timeout, Wilkes was out of rhythm but got a long three-pointer off out of the hands of Jeremy Hartman with 16 ticks left but that was also off the back iron as junior Brett Moyer secured the board.  Moyer found Coleman with the outlet and Coleman dribbled up the court, making a move at the basket, before a timeout from the DeSales bench stopped play with 3.9 seconds left.

DSU was unable to get the ball inbounds out of the first timeout and was forced to burn its last timeout of the game.  Sophomore Paul Pammer found Hash on the ensuing inbounds play and Hash dribbled left and pulled up just inside the three-point line where the Colonels' Matt Mullin reached in and fouled Hash across the arm with 0.8 seconds left sending Hash to the line where he hit the game-winners.

Hash finished with 12 points and also pulled down five rebounds, while Moyer led the charge with 17 points and eight rebounds.  Coleman had a solid game off the bench with 13 points, four rebounds, and four assists, and Pammer also reached double digits with 10 points.

Paul Huch led Wilkes with 26 points and 10 rebounds.  Huch was the story in the opening half, hitting his first six three-point attempts to give the Colonels a 23-12 lead before DeSales chipped away to get within three at the break.  Hinze finished with 10 points, Jourdon Wilson added nine points, and Mullins finished with eight tallies in the loss.

DeSales shot 48.1 percent from the floor, committed just nine turnovers, and out-rebounded the much taller Colonels, 35-29, for the game.  Wilkes also took excellent care of the ball with just seven turnovers but shot just 41.8 percent from the floor.

The Bulldogs return to action and finish the regular season on Saturday when they travel to Eastern University with tip set for 3:00 pm.