The first half featured five ties and nine lead changes until DSU (8-2 overall) took control with an 11-4 run to end the half and take a 34-28 lead into the locker room. During the spurt to end the half sophomore Ed Lapinski had four points and junior Jamie McCloskey added three points.
The Mules (4-5 overall) came out storming in the second half using a 16-3 run to begin the half to take a seven-point lead, 44-37. Jimmie Riggins led the way for Muhlenberg with eight points during the spurt. Consecutive buckets by senior Sedale Walton and a lay-up from sophomore Jeff Raimo cut the margin to one point with 12:07 left to play.
The game was once again back and forth over the next nine minutes with no team leading by more than three points. Leading by three at the 2:49 mark, DSU took control as freshman Darnell Braswell hit a three-pointer pushing the lead to six, Riggins answered on the other end with two free throws, but junior Phil Stricker converted a lay-up and Raimo drained his second trey of the game to push the margin to nine points and the Bulldogs never looked back.
Sophomore Matt Zwetolitz had his best game in a Bulldog uniform leading the squad with a team-high 14 points off the bench on 6-of-11 shooting. Raimo continued his torrid play with 11 points to round out the double digit scorers. Stricker, Walton and junior Eddie Ohlson each had eight points in the win.
Riggins led the Mules with a double-double of 23 points and 11 rebounds. Chris Pothering added 12 points and Tom Scott had 11 points in the loss.
DESALES 71, MUHLENBERG COLLEGE 63 MUHLENBERG COLLEGE (4-5 overall) Jimmie Riggins 7-12 6-7 23; Chris Pothering 4-8 2-2 12; Tom Scott 4-11 3-4 11; Justin Fields 2-3 1-1 5; Chris Huber 1-7 2-2 4; Ryan Foster 1-1 0-0 3; Obi Nwizugbo 1-3 0-0 2; Greg Pask 1-2 0-0 2; Brandon Mefford 0-3 0-0 0. Totals 21-50 15-19 63. DESALES (8-2 overall) Matt Zwetolitz 6-11 1-1 14; Jeff Raimo 4-4 1-2 11; Phil Stricker 3-7 2-4 8; Eddie Ohlson 3-7 1-2 8; Sedale Walton 4-8 0-0 8; Ed Lapinski 2-2 2-2 6; Marvin Satchell 2-3 0-0 4; Darnell Braswell 1-5 1-2 4; Jamie McCloskey 1-5 2-4 4; Steve Kriczky 1-6 0-0 2; Zach Hoover 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 27-59 12-19 71. Muhlenberg College............ 29 34 - 63 DeSales....................... 35 36 - 71 3-point goals-Muhlenberg 6-21 (Jimmie Riggins 3-6; Chris Pothering 2-6; Ryan Foster 1-1; Chris Huber 0-3; Brandon Mefford 0-2; Tom Scott 0-3), DeSales 5-15 (Jeff Raimo 2-2; Matt Zwetolitz 1-2; Eddie Ohlson 1-3; Darnell Braswell 1-3; Jamie McCloskey 0-1; Steve Kriczky 0-2; Zach Hoover 0-1; Sedale Walton 0-1). Rebounds-Muhlenberg 31 (Jimmie Riggins 11), DeSales 35 (Ed Lapinski 6; Darnell Braswell 6). Assists-Muhlenberg 7 (Chris MacIntosh 2; Brandon Mefford 2), DeSales 14 (Eddie Ohlson 5).