Center Valley, PA (January 25, 2017) - Senior Ryan Callahan had a game-high 18 points and sophomore Luke Connaghan hit two big 3's and added 13 points off the bench leading the DeSales University men's basketball team past King's College, 77-74, snapping a three-game losing skid in MAC Freedom action on Wednesday evening in Billera Hall.

The Bulldogs (12-6, 4-3 MAC Freedom) finish up the first-half of the conference schedule tied for third with Misericordia University, one game ahead of three teams in fifth place, but with wins over the two teams in first (Eastern) and second (Delaware Valley) place after seven games.  DSU travels to Eastern University on Saturday with tip set for 3:00 pm looking to earn the season sweep and the all important tiebreaker over the Eagles.

Callahan shot 7-for-9 from the field and added four rebounds, while Connaghan pulled down six boards and went 2-for-2 from outside the arc.  Freshman Tracy Simsick and senior Kuity Slanger each had 10 points and senior Brian Laird added nine tallies in the win.  Slanger dished out six assists and pulled down five boards.

King's (4-14, 0-7 MAC Freedom) got 16 points from Trey Millan off the bench, 15 tallies from Chris Fazzini, 13 from Connor Callejas, and 11 points from Jake Barber in the loss.

DSU had control of this game early opening up a 27-17 lead with 7:19 left in the opening half before the Monarchs finished the half on a 17-4 run to take a 34-31 lead after a three from Barber into the halftime locker room.

KC led by seven (40-33) at the start of the second-half when DeSales came alive using an 11-0 run in which 10 of the 11 points came in transition on the fast break on terrific passes from Laird (two assists) and Slanger (three assists) and saw Callahan score seven of the 11 points.

King's pulled to within one (48-47) when senior Brandon Bridy kicked the ball out to Connaghan who was wide open in the corner for his first three of the game pushing the lead back to four (51-47) at the 10:41 mark.

It was back and forth over the next several minutes as King's took a one-point lead (57-56) with 8:28 left before a 7-0 run featuring a lay-up from Simsick, a three-point play from Connaghan, and a lay-up from Bridy gave DSU a 63-57 lead with 4:33 remaining.

The Monarchs rebounded scoring six straight points to the score at 63 and took a one-point lead after two free throws from junior Steve Ciotti on a three from Callejas with 3:01 to go.

DSU answered immediately when Laird found Connaghan for his second three of the game, a huge one that started another 7-0 run that was finished off by Slanger scoring four straight staking DeSales to a 72-66 cushion with 1:21 left.

A Millan three cut the margin in half but after a timeout Callahan cleaned up a missed three from Laird pushing the lead back to five points with 35 ticks left.

Callejas made one freebie on the ensuing possession and after a DSU turnover on the inbounds, Barber scored making it a two-point game with 16 seconds left.  Laird was fouled on the next possession and he made two free throws but a Rutecki lay-up got King's within two yet again with four seconds left.

KC was forced to foul once again, sending Callahan to the line with 3.2 seconds left.  He missed the first but made the second free throw and a Callejas running three-pointer at half court was hard off the backboard as time expired and DeSales hanging on for the win.

DSU finished the game shooting 49.1 percent and out-rebounded King's, 33-27.  DeSales also enjoyed a 42-20 advantage scoring in the paint, while King's hit 10-of-19 from outside the arc for the game.

Connaghan earns A.B.E. Doors and Windows Player of the Game honors.