Center Valley, PA (December 30, 2023) - Senior Elijah Eberly hit a turnaround layup with 17.6 seconds left lifting the DeSales University men's basketball team past Montclair State, 84-83, on day two of the Al Senavitis Memorial Tournament in Billera Hall on Friday evening.

The Basics

• Final Score: DeSales - 84, Montclair State - 83
• Records: DeSales (9-2 Overall); Montclair State (9-4 Overall)
• The win moves the Bulldogs to 4-0 all-time vs. the Red Hawks. 

How it Happened

• DeSales opened the game on a 13-4 run, taking a nine point lead over the first five minutes of the game.
• The Red Hawks cut the lead down to eight several times throughout the first-half but the Bulldogs led the entire way with the lead swelling up to 13 (43-30) going into the break.
• MSU opened the second-half on a 10-4 run and only trailed by seven points (47-40) at the 15:40 mark.
• The Bulldogs countered with a 11-5 run midway through the half to push the lead back to 12 (70-58) with 5:57 to go.
• DSU led 77-64 at the 3:42 mark before the Red Hawks went on a run of their own to set up a thrilling final three minutes. 
• MSU went on a 13-1 run in 1:30 off a couple inbounding turnovers by the Bulldogs that cut their lead to one (78-77) with 2:12 left to play.
• The Red Hawks connected on the go-ahead bucket on their next possession on a four-point play off a corner three hit by Kyree Henry to take a 81-78 lead with 1:39 to go.
• On the next possession Eberly came down with an offensive rebound where he would then find senior Christian Guldin near the top of the key to tie the game up at 81 with 1:32 left.
• Henry took back the lead for MSU on a driving layup before Eberly split a pair of free throws on a trip to the line the next possession that made it 83-82 MSU with 47.5 on the clock.
• DSU got the stop needed on defense on the next possession thanks to an offensive foul drawn by senior Mason Barnes.
• With 17.6 left Eberly took the ball at the foul line where he took his defender one-on-one on a drive to the rim where he knocked in a turnaround layup to give the Bulldogs the lead.
• The Red Hawks had one last chance but the Bulldogs stood their ground on defense to pull out the 84-83 win.

Top Bulldog Performers

• Eberly led DSU in scoring with 20 points and added seven boards and three assists.
• Guldin had 14 points and hit four three's in the win.
• Junior Caleb Gibbs had 12 points and led the team in rebounding with nine.
• Barnes had seven points and a team-leading six assists and three steals.

For the Foes

• Henry led all scorers with 28 points and going a perfect 7-7 from three to go along with three steals.
• Mike Jackson had eight points and five rebounds in the loss. 

Inside the Box Score

• DeSales controlled the glass out-rebounding the Red Hawks, 40-23.
• DSU shot 55.2 percent for the game while Montclair State shot 49.2 percent.
• The Bulldogs were 10-for-21 from outside the arc.

Up Next

• DSU returns to action on January 3rd when they host Arcadia University in the MAC Freedom opener and championship rematch from a year ago with tip-off set for 8:00pm.