Center Valley, PA (November 7, 2026) - Four players scored in double digits and the DeSales University men's basketball team held off a late rally to take down PSU-Schuylkill, 85-79, in the season opener on Saturday afternoon in Billera Hall.
The Basics
- Final Score:Â DeSales - 85, PSU-Schuylkill - 79
- Records: DeSales (1-0 Overall); PSU-Schuylkill (0-1 Overall)
- This was the second career meeting between these two teams with the Bulldogs improving to 2-0 in the series.
- The win is #599 for head coach Scott Coval who will aim to become just the 34th coach in NCAA Division III history to win 600 career games.
How it Happened
- After PSU scored the first two points of the game, DSU scored the next 13 to take a 13-2 lead entering the first media timeout.
- That lead did nothing but grow over the next 10 minutes as the Bulldogs took their second 24-point lead at the 4:46 mark of the opening half.
- The Nittany Lions used an 11-1 run over the next two minutes to get within 14 before DSU took a 45-29 lead into the halftime locker room.
- The start of the second half was back-and-forth as the lead stayed in double digits till the 11:46 mark when PSU made it a nine-point game.
- DeSales answered that with a 9-2 run to take a 71-55 lead with 8:56 left in the game.
- It remained a 16-point game with 6:56 to go when the Nittany Lions scored nine straight points to pull within seven (73-66) with 4:37 to go.
- Sophomore Riley Buzby hit a putback layup and junior Robbie Ruisch hit a free throw to reclaim a double digit lead (76-66) with 3:17 left.
- PSU-Schuylkill hit two 3's and a short layup on the next three possessions to get within two points (76-74) with 1:34 left.
- Out of a timeout, Ruisch came up clutch hitting a 3 from the right wing on a nice find from junior Luke Keppel with 1:03 remaining and DeSales went 6-for-6 from the charity stripe down the stretch to secure the win.
Top Bulldog Performers
- Buzby led the Bulldogs tallying 16 points, hitting 4 3's.
- Keppel and Ruisch each had 15 points, with Ruisch adding a team-high nine rebounds and four steals.
- Junior Ty Mishock added a career-high 14 points, hitting 12-for-14 from the free throw line, adding five assists.
For the Foes
- Isaac Lane had a game-high 30 points for the Nittany Lions.
- Jacob Dallas and Vincent Frene each added 19 points in the loss.
Inside the Box Score
- There was a total of 46 fouls in the game and 60 foul shots attempted.
- DSU was 28-for-40 from the free throw line (70.0%).
- Both teams shot 39+% from the field and each had 18 offensive rebounds.
Up Next
- The Bulldogs return to action on Friday, November 13th when they host PSU-Lehigh Valley beginning at 7:00 pm.
