Center Valley, PA (January 18, 2017) - The DeSales University men's basketball team opened the second-half 3-for-19 and a late rally came up just short as the Bulldogs dropped their first home game of the season, 78-74, to Wilkes University in MAC Freedom action on Wednesday evening in Billera Hall.

Senior Ryan Callahan led all scorers with 16 points and added six rebounds and four blocks to lead the Bulldogs (11-5, 3-2 MAC Freedom).  Junior Connor Jones had 12 points off the pine, senior Brandon Bridy recorded his second career double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds, and senior Kuity Slanger and freshman Tracy Simsick each added 11 points in the loss.  Slanger also pulled down seven boards and dished out six assists.

Wilkes (8-8, 2-3 MAC Freedom) got 13 points each from Connor Evans and Zach Brunner and 10 points apiece from Tommy Bowen and Mark Mullins to lead the Colonels.

After controlling nearly the entire first-half leading for just over 18 minutes DeSales took just a five-point lead into the halftime locker room (41-36) when Wilkes finished the half on a 5-0 run over the final 22 seconds.

The Bulldogs then went ice cold in the second-half, hitting just 3-of-19 shots over the first 14:25 of the second-half as Wilkes methodically took a 10 point lead (65-55) with 5:45 left to play.

Callahan ended the drought with a three-point play 10 seconds later and after two misses from the Colonels, a Slanger three-point play quickly cut the margin down to four points.  On the ensuing possession a Laird steal at half court led to a putback from Bridy and in just 49 seconds, DSU had cut a 10-point deficit down to two points (65-63) with 4:46 left to play.

One minute later consecutive jumpers from sophomore Luke Connaghan and Jones tied the game at 67 but four straight points from Wilkes and a three from the Colonels' Marcus Robinson gave the visitor's a 74-69 advantage with two minutes to go.

Simsick pulled DSU back within a possession with two freebies as the two teams traded misses on consecutive possessions.  After a timeout with 1:01 left, Jones pulled DSU within one (74-73) on a turn around lay-up in the paint.

Evans made 1-of-2 free throws on the other end giving the Bulldogs possesion down two with 18 seconds left.

Out of the timeout Simsick got a good look on a three from the right corner but his shot sailed long and Robinson hit 1-of-2 on the other end with eight seconds left.  Again out of timeout, Wilkes elected to immediately foul Slanger rather then let DeSales get off a tying three-pointer.  He missed the first and made the second and freshman Mark Mullins iced the win two free throws with four seconds left for Wilkes.

DeSales dominated the glass, out-rebounding Wilkes, 44-29, for the game.  Wilkes took advantage of 20 Bulldog miscues, scoring 23 points off those turnovers.  DSU finished the game shooting 44.1 percent, but just 33.3 percent in the second-half.

The Bulldogs are right back to action on Saturday when they travel to Misericordia University for another important MAC Freedom game set to begin at 3:00 pm.