Center Valley, PA (December 19, 2022) - First-year
Nate Ellis scored the last six points of the game for DeSales including a step-back jumper with five seconds left giving the DeSales University men's basketball team a 68-67 win over local rival Muhlenberg College in non-conference action on Monday evening.
The Basics
- Final Score: DeSales - 68, Muhlenberg - 67
- Records: DeSales (8-2 overall); Muhlenberg (6-2 overall)
- DeSales' wins its sixth straight.
- It is DSU's second straight win over the Mules and moves its all-time record against its local rival to 23-27.
- Muhlenberg was receiving votes in the latest D3hoops.com National Top 25 poll.
How it Happened
- Muhlenberg was in control of this one early opening up a 11-2 lead and continued to lead by nine (16-7) just under six and a half minutes into the game.
- The DeSales bench got the Bulldogs back into it using an 11-2 run to tie the score at 18 led by six points from senior Will Bowen.
- The Mules recalimed a five point lead a few minutes later but DSU finished the half on a 16-6 spurt to take a five point advantage (34-29) into the locker room.
- DeSales was in control for nearly the entire second-half carrying at least a three-point lead to the nine minute mark when Muhlenberg scored four straight to get within one (56-55).
- It was still a one-point game at the 4:38 mark when Charlie Gillikin hit a desperation 3 at the shot clock buzzer to give the Mules a 64-62 advantage.
- After several empty possessions by both teams, Ellis tied the game with a step back jumper tying the game at 64.
- On the ensuing possession, Gillikin did it again as the Bulldogs had a terrific defensive possession but Gillikin bailed the Mules out with another desperation 3 from about 6 feet behind the arc as the buzzer sounded giving MC a 67-64 lead.
- After a timeout, Ellis was fouled on a short jumper and made both free throws to get the Bulldogs within one.
- DeSales got a stop on the other end and again called timeout with 12.7 seconds left.
- Out of the timeout, Ellis got the ball and went to work shaking a Mule defender and hitting another step-back jumper from about the foul line and a long range three from Muhlenberg was off the mark as time expired on the game.
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Top Bulldog Performers
- Ellis led all scorers with a game-high 19 points on 8-for-11 shooting.
- Sophomore Devin Atkinson came off the bench to also hit for double digits with 11.
- Bowen had a strong game off the bench with eight points and junior Mason Barnes returned from injury with a team-high three assists and two steals.
For the Foes
- Giovanni Rubino led Muhlenberg with 16 points.
- Jayson Williams-Johnson added 12 points and Dan Gaines had a game-high seven assists.
- Luke Gordos finished with 11 and Brandon Goldberg added 10 in the loss.
Inside the Box Score
- Both teams shot well with Muhlenberg hitting 50 percent from the field and DeSales converting on 49.1 percent.
- The DeSales bench was outstanding scored 46 of DSU's 68 points.
- The Bulldogs had just 10 turnovers in the win and were excellent from the free throw line (10-of-12).
Up Next
- The Bulldogs are now off for the Christmas holiday's and will return to action on December 29th when they host Ursinus College in the opening game of the Al Senavitis Memorial Holiday Tournament.
