Wilkes-Barre, PA (February 8, 2017) - Senior Brian Laird hit a three-pointer with 5.8 seconds left and a final possession by Wilkes went off a Colonel foot off the dribble as the DeSales University men's basketball team escaped with a 72-71 win in MAC Freedom action on Wednesday evening.

Senior Ryan Callahan led the way totaling 17 points and seven rebounds, senior Kuity Slanger added 16 points, seven boards, and four assists, Laird totaled 12 points, including three 3's, and sophomore Luke Connaghan had 10 points.

Wilkes (11-11, 5-6 MAC Freedom) got 13 points apiece from Tommy Bowen and Marcus Robinson and Connor Evans added 12 points in the loss.

The Bulldogs trailed by seven at the break before quickly erasing the deficit with a quick 7-0 run to start the second-half as the two teams battled back and forth over the next several minutes with neither team leading by more than three until Wilkes took a 58-53 lead with 7:51 to go.

A Laird triple just over a minute later cut it down to a one-point game before a Callahan steal and dunk and two Laird freebies at the 4:42 mark gave the Bulldogs a 62-61 cushion.

The game remained tied after two Slanger free throws at the 1:59 mark and Wilkes came up empty on its next possession as DSU called timeout with 1:09 to play.

Out of the timeout the Bulldogs were unable to get a shot off as Callahan jumped on a loose ball and called another timeout with just one second on the shot clock.  Out of that timeout DSU turned the ball over on a lob pass and Wilkes called timeout with 39 seconds left.

Evans connected on a deep three out of the timeout and DSU quickly raced down the court as Callahan hit a short jump hook with 22 seconds left making it a one-point game.

The Bulldogs found Evans with 13 seconds left and he hit just 1-of-2, missing the second as Slanger grabbed the board, flicked a long pass down the right sideline to Laird who was left alone in the corner as his three rattled home giving DSU a 72-71 lead.

The Colonels took a timeout and Evans got the inbounds needing to go the length of the court.  He dribbled just inside the right wing as the ball glanced off his foot with 0.6 seconds left to play.  Connaghan tried to throw the ball to the other end of the court just needing a touch to run the clock down but the ball was tipped on the inbounds as time expired before a Colonel get a shot attempt off.

DeSales now sits tied in the MAC Freedom standings with Delaware Valley at 8-3, one game behind Eastern University who is 9-2 with three games left in the regular season.

The Bulldogs hit 56.5 percent from the field in the second-half on Wednesday and shot 51.2 percent for the game.  After missing seven free throws in the opening half, DSU did an excellent job in the second-half hitting 14-of-17 and 71.4 percent for the game.

Callahan is named the A.B.E. Doors and Windows Player of the game going a perfect 6-for-6 from the field and 5-for-5 from the line.

DSU is back in action on Saturday when they travel to King's College for another important MAC Freedom battle set to begin at 3:00 pm.