Dallas, PA (January 24, 2024) - Senior Jordan Holmqvist hit a step-back jumper from the foul line with 30 seconds left lifting the DeSales University men's basketball team past Misericordia University, 80-78, in MAC Freedom action on Wednesday evening.

The Basics

• Final Score: DeSales - 80, Misericordia - 78
• Records: DeSales (16-2, 7-0 MAC Freedom); Misericordia (11-7, 5-2 MAC Freedom)
• The Bulldogs extend their season long win streak to 13 in a row with the win.
• DSU finishes the first-half of the MAC Freedom regular season undefeated and with a two-game lead in the MAC Freedom.
• DeSales is now 36-20 all-time vs. the Cougars.

How it Happened

• Misericordia jumped out to a 9-2 lead early but the Bulldogs caught fire, going on a 24-4 run over the span of 7:34 to take a 26-13 lead at the 10 minute mark of the first-half.
• Senior Elijah Eberly led the way during the run scoring eight points.
• The lead remained 13 with 1:35 left in the opening half before Misericordia scored the final five points to get within eight (43-35) at the break.
• MU rode that momentum at the start of the second-half, opening with a 15-4 run, claiming a 50-47 lead, five minutes into the second-half.
• The rest of the game was back-and-forth the entire way with MU leading by as many as four points once and DeSales taking a five point lead on a step back three from senior Mason Barnes with 2:41 left to play.
• The Cougars responded after that Barnes triple with five straight points to tie the game at 76 with 1:38 to go.
• Junior Caleb Gibbs scored on the DSU's next possession and Misericordia tied it again with two freebies with 57 seconds left.
• Out of a timeout, DeSales got the ball off a broken play to Holmqvist off a screen at the foul line, who after a few dribbles stepped back and nailed a short jumper to give DSU an 80-78 lead with 30 seconds left.
• A short jumper from Kevin Lazdowsky was off the mark but the rebound was fumbled out of bounds after two Bulldogs both went after it.
• MU called a second timeout with seven seconds left inbounding on the left sideline.
• Lazdowsky got the ball in the post and took a fall-away jumper on the baseline that hit front rim and Gibbs was there for the rebound as time expired.

Top Bulldog Performers

• Holmqvist and Eberly led the way in the scoring column each scoring 14 off the bench to lead the Bulldogs.
• Eberly added eight rebounds and Holmqvist knocked down four 3's in the win.
• Senior Will Bowen added 12 points and Gibbs was in double digits with 10 points and just one rebound shy of a double-double.
• Junior Devin Atkinson also gave the Bulldogs a boost off the pine with eight points.

For the Foes

• Lazdowsky was the game's leading scorer with 22 points.
• Nick Hornung added 18 points and had eight rebounds.
• Joseph Baldachino finished with 14 points and Nate Kreitzer had 11 points.

Inside the Box Score

• DSU shot 49.2 percent from the field and was 11-for-28 from three-point arc.
• Both teams took excellent care of the ball combining for just 14 turnovers in the game.
• The DeSales bench out-scored the MU bench, 42-5.

Up Next

• DeSales is back in action on Saturday when they travel on the road yet again to take on Arcadia University with tip set for 3:00 pm.