Hoboken, NJ (February 7, 2024) - The #17 DeSales University men's basketball team clinched the top seed in the MAC Freedom postseason tournament winning its 17th straight game, 77-69, at Stevens in MAC Freedom action on Wednesday evening at Canavan Arena.

The Basics

• Final Score: #17 DeSales - 77, Stevens - 69
• Records: #17 DeSales (20-2, 11-0 MAC Freedom); Stevens (17-5, 8-3 MAC Freedom)
• DSU clinches the top seed in the postseason tournament and at least a share of the MAC Freedom regular season championship with the win.
• DeSales extends its school-record win streak to 17 straight and has also won 10 straight on the road.
• This is the Bulldogs seventh straight win over the Ducks improving to 10-2 all-time in the series.

How it Happened

• The game was back and forth early as senior Mason Barnes hit his first four three-point attempts to tie the game at 20 near the middle of the opening half.
• It remained tied at 22 before six straight points from DeSales gave the Bulldogs a six-point lead (28-22) that grew as high as eight points before settling for a 45-38 lead at the half.
• The Bulldogs opened the second-half in control using a 15-2 run to take a 60-40 lead thanks in part to three 3's from senior Christian Guldin, Barnes, and senior Jordan Holmqvist during the spurt.
• The lead was 19 with 7:26 to go when the Ducks started to crawl back into the game.
• A 14-2 Stevens run cut the margin down to six points with 1:49 to go but Barnes and Holmqvist hit 5-for-6 from the charity stripe down the stretch spoiling any further comeback icing the win.

Top Bulldog Performers

• Barnes finished with a career-high 19 points, going 5-for-7 from the arc and adding seven rebounds and five assists.
• Senior Will Bowen totaled 17 points and senior Caleb Gibbs had 10 points and eight rebounds.

For the Foes

• Stevens got double-doubles from Jack Spellman (13 and 10) and Xander Singh (11 and 10) in the loss.
• Stephen Braunstein led the scoring for the Ducks with 16 and Mike Goodall added 13.

Inside the Box Score

• DeSales shot a very efficient 54.7 percent from the field and 52.9 percent from outside the arc.
• The Bulldogs held Stevens to just 41.4 percent from the field.

Up Next

• DeSales is back in action on Saturday when they travel to Lebanon Valley College for another MAC Freedom contest set to tip at 3:00 pm.