St. David's, PA (February 13, 2019) - The DeSales University men's basketball team clinched the top seed and won the MAC Freedom Regular Season Championship with a 74-68 win at Eastern University on Wednesday evening.

The Basics

• Final Score: DeSales - 74, Eastern - 68
• Records: DeSales (18-6, 11-2 Conf.); Eastern (15-9, 9-4 Conf.)
• The Bulldogs clinch the top seed in the MAC Freedom postseason tournament next week and earn the MAC Freedom Regular Championship.

How it Happened

• Leading by one early, DeSales took control with a 20-4 run over the span of 6:20 as seven different players scored led by sophomore Matt Kachelries with five points giving the Bulldogs a 27-10 lead at the 7:25 mark.
• The lead peaked at 18 (35-17) and was 13 at the half (38-25).
• The lead remained double digits thru the first 12:30 of the first-half before Eastern hit a three to get within seven (57-50) with 7:32 left to play.
• Eastern got within three at the four minute mark before both teams had a few empty possessions as the clock ticked under three minutes left.
• Junior Julian Wing ended the mini drought for both clubs with a clutch three from the left wing at the 2:38 mark to give DSU a 64-58 lead.
• DSU then got three straight stops and Kachelries converted a driving layup with 1:23 to go and the Bulldogs iced the win from the line hitting 8-for-8 over the final 31 seconds.

Top Bulldog Performers

• Kachelries finished with a game-high 16 points to lead the Bulldogs.
• Senior Luke Connaghan had 11 points and pulled down six rebounds.
• Wing and sophomore Timmy Edwards each added 10 points in the win.

For the Foes

• Darius Washington finished with 16 points to lead the Eagles.
• Michael Bowlers added a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds.
• Austin Duncan totaled 10 points.

Inside the Box Score

• DSU took very good care of the ball committing just 14 turnovers and forced 30 Eagle miscues.
• DeSales held Eastern to just 33.3 percent shooting in the first-half to build its halftime lead.
• The Bulldogs hit 8-of-20 from outside the arc.

Up Next

• DeSales wraps up the MAC Freedom regular season on Saturday when they host Delaware Valley University on senior day beginning at 3:00 pm.