The Bulldogs (22-3, 12-2 Freedom) will host the #4 seed, Wilkes University, in the first round of the Freedom Conference playoffs on Wednesday, February 25th at 8:00 pm. The other semifinal game will have the #2 seed, King’s College, hosting the #3 seed Lycoming College. The win today was the eighth in a row for DeSales and extended its school-record home winning streak to 20 games as DSU finishes the regular season with a perfect 13-0 mark at home.
DSU seemed to have this game in hand at the 4:02 mark of the second half as they led by 12 points, 65-53, on two Michael Venafra free throws but the Warriors used a 7-0 run over the next 1 ½ minutes to pull within five at 65-60. Lycoming had two possessions to get even closer but consecutive missed jumpers by LC saw junior David Bright knock down 1-of-2 free throws and after a steal by Bright on the next possession, DSU nailed 5-of-6 charity tosses down the stretch to earn the top spot in the playoffs.
Lycoming had led 10-5 early in the game before DSU took control using a 13-0 run to take an 18-10 lead at the 10:04 mark of the first half. The lead peaked at 12 points twice in the opening half before DSU settled for an 11-point halftime edge, 37-26. DSU wasted little time increasing its lead in the second half as they opened the half with an 11-4 spurt to lead by 15 points at 48-33 before holding at the end.
Venafra finished with a game-high 22 points on 6-of-12 shooting and a 7-for-8 effort from the free throw line. Senior Jim Zinn totaled 13 points including three treys and junior David Spadt added 11 points. Bright led the charge on the boards with 11 caroms as DSU out-rebounded the Freedom Conference leader in rebounds 31-30.
Sophomore Jonathan Pribble scored 18 points and nine rebounds to lead Lycoming. LJ Huggler added 12 points and Matt Stackhouse was held to just eight points before fouling out after just 14 minutes played.