Scranton, PA (November 7, 2025) - Sophomores Luke Keppel and Jayden Thomas combined for 33 points leading the DeSales University men's basketball team past Neumann University, 74-67, in the season opener on day one of the University of Scranton tip-off Tournament Friday evening.

The Basics

• Final Score: DeSales - 74, Neumann - 67
• Records: DeSales (1-0 Overall); Neumann (0-1 Overall)
• This was the first meeting between the two teams since the 2021-22 season as the Bulldogs improve to 11-1 all-time in the series.
• DSU advances to the championship game tomorrow vs. host Scranton with tip set for 4:00 pm.

How it Happened

• The Bulldogs were out of the gates quickly in this one opening up a 13-4 lead 4:18 into the game with Keppel (6) and Thomas (5) leading the way.
• The lead swelled to 11 points several times including the last at 24-13 halfway thru the half on a bucket from senior Ryan Glassmacher.
• Neumann chipped away at the advantage, getting within four a few times before DSU settled for a seven-point advantage (39-32) after two free throws with one second left by Keppel.
• DeSales regained that 11-point lead early in the second-half before a 7-0 run by the Knights made it a four-point game (45-41).
• It was back-and-forth for several minutes as the Bulldogs battled foul trouble, taking a 64-56 lead with 8:02 left.
• DSU went cold, held to just a free throw over the next 4:03 as the Knights trailed by just one point (65-64).
• Sophomore Emanuel Domingo ended the drought with an alley-oop dunk off a feed from Thomas and Keppel nailed a deep 3 on the next possession to give DeSales a 70-64 lead 2ith 2:36 to go.
• Leading by five with 2:22 left, sophomore Ty Mishock iced the win with a floater off the glass as the shot clock hit zero to regain a seven point lead with 1:52 remaining. 

Top Bulldog Performers

• Thomas finished with a team-high 17 points, 13 in the first-half.
• Keppel added 16 points, hitting four 3's and adding a team-high tying six boards.
• Senior Brendan Boyle had eight points off the bench, while Mishock, Domingo, and first-year Riley Buzby each tossed in seven points.

For the Foes

• Bryan Etienne had a game-high 19 points to lead the Knights.
• DJ Earl added 16 points, Donte Dupriest had 13 points and eight boards, and Julian Phillips finished with 11 points and eight boards.

Inside the Box Score

• DeSales was a very efficient 13-for-16 (81.3 percent) from the free throw line, while the Knights hit just 17-for-27 (63.0 percent).
• The Bulldogs bench out-scored Neumann's, 23-7.
• DSU never trailed in this one and led for all but 23 seconds.