Center Valley, PA (December 29, 2022) - The DeSales University men's basketball team got 48 points from its bench in an 83-69 win over Ursinus College on day one of the Al Senavitis Memorial Tournament in Billera Hall on Thursday evening.

The Basics

• Final Score: DeSales - 83, Ursinus - 69
• Records: DeSales (9-2 overall); Ursinus (7-2 overall)
• DeSales' wins its seventh straight.
• The Bulldogs even their all-time record vs. Ursinus to 7-7 in the first meeting between the two teams since the 1994-95 season.
• This is the 19th year for the Al Senavitis Memorial Tournament with the Bulldogs advancing to the championship game for the 11th time.

How it Happened

• Ursinus was out quickly in this one taking a 15-5 lead over the first 4:20 and led by 11 (23-12) when the Bulldogs took over.
• The bench led a 10-0 run thanks to five points each from sophomore Devin Atkinson and first-year Nate Ellis pulling the Bulldogs within one (23-22) with 9:18 left in the opening half.
• The Bears continued to lead by three (33-30) with 4:23 to go in the half when DSU finished the first 20 minutes out-scoring UC, 13-5 to take a 43-38 lead.
• DeSales pushed its lead up 11 points (53-42) early in the second-half and continued to lead by 11 (69-58) after holding off a Bear rally in the middle of the half with 7:51 to go.
• Ursinus scored seven straight points to get within two (70-68) but seven straight points, including five by Ellis pushed the margin up to nine points with 1:49 to go and the Bulldogs never looked back from there.

Top Bulldog Performers

• Ellis led all scorers once again with 18 points and added three assists.
• Atkinson recorded his first career double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds.
• Junior Elijah Eberly finished with 16 points and pulled down eight rebounds along with three blocked shots.
• Junior Christian Guldin tossed in 11 points off the bench and pulled down six boards.
• Junior Mason Barnes finished with eight points and five assists.

For the Foes

• Marlin Wise had a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds.
• Ryan Hughes finished with 13 points.
• Mohamed Toure totaled 11 points off the bench.

Inside the Box Score

• DeSales hit 48.4 percent from the field and held Ursinus to just 33.3 percent shooting in the second-half and 40.6 percent for the game.
• The Bulldogs bench out-scored Ursinus, 48-21.
• DSU dominated the glass out-rebounding the Bears, 44-31.

Up Next

• DeSales will take on Montclair State University in the championship game tomorrow beginning at 7:00 pm after the Red Hawks defeated Alvernia, 61-54, in the other opening day game.