Center Valley, PA (February 21, 2024) - Senior Mason Barnes scored a career-high 24 points and added seven steals carrying the #16 DeSales University men's basketball team past Misericordia University, 83-67, in the MAC Freedom semifinals on Wednesday evening in Billera Hall.

The Basics

• Final Score: #16 DeSales - 83, Misericordia - 67
• Records: #16 DeSales (24-2 overall); Misericordia (13-13 overall)
• The Bulldogs advance to the MAC Freedom Championship game for the seventh time in the last eight seasons.
• The win extends DSU's school-record win streak to 21 straight and DeSales has now won 11 straight at home.
• The Bulldogs have won three straight over the Cougars improving to 38-20 all-time and 26-6 vs. Misericordia at home.

How it Happened

• This game was back-and-forth at the start before a short 8-2 run bookended by 3's from senior Jordan Holmqvist and junior Devin Atkinson gave DSU a 20-15 lead at the 11:50 mark.
• The lead grew to as many as nine points before DSU settled for a 40-36 cushion at the halftime break.
• DeSales never trailed in the second-half but the Cougars wouldn't go away getting within two points (56-54) at the 12:36 mark.
• Barnes scored on a driving lay-up on the next possession and Atkinson made the play of the game diving on a loose ball at half court and throwing a pass to junior Caleb Gibbs while laying on his back, who dunked the ball to give the Bulldogs a 60-54 lead with nine minutes left.
• It remained a six point lead at the six minute mark before DSU put the game away with a 13-0 run that included a step-back three from Barnes, a beat the shot clock triple from Gibbs, and a dagger bomb from senior Christian Guldin making it an 81-62 game with 1:47 left.

Top Bulldog Performers

• All five starters were in double digits led by Barnes with a career-high 24 points, going 10-for-13 from the field, and addinga career-best seven steals.
• Guldin finished with 13 points, hitting three 3's.
• Senior Ryan Boylan added 12 points and senior Will Bowen had 10 points and six rebounds.
• Gibbs added 10 points and a career-high six assists.

For the Foes

• Kevin Lazdowsky had 16 points to lead Misericordia.
• Nick Hornung added 14 points.

Inside the Box Score

• DeSales shot 48.4 perecent from the field and 48.3 percent from three-point, tying its season-high with 14 3's.
• DSU took excellent care of the ball with just eight turnovers.
• The Bulldogs controlled the glass out-rebounding the Cougars, 33-26.

MAC Freedom Championship

• The Bulldogs will host the #2 seed, Stevens, in the conference title game on Saturday with tip set for 4:00 pm.