The Bulldogs (14-1 overall, 5-0 Freedom) also tied the school-record for consecutive wins at home with their 15th straight home victory. Scranton (2-14 overall, 0-5 Freedom) lost for the second straight time. DSU shot 49.1 percent for the game and held UofS to just 27 second half points. DeSales out-rebounded Scranton, 42-24, on the glass and held a 17-2 advantage on second chance points.
After jumping out early and leading 24-8 at the 11:10 mark of the first half DSU seemed to be cruising to its school-record 13th straight win. The Royals showed no quit though and responded with a 21-8 run that cut the lead to three points at 32-29 with 3:48 left in the first half. DSU pushed the lead back up to six points on senior Harry Morra’s three-pointer and held that same lead at the half.
The Royals scored the first five points of the second half and trailed by just one, 40-39, with 18:37 left before the Bulldogs took control. Leading by four points, 48-44, with 15:33 remaining, DSU went on a 12-2 run to push the advantage to 14 points and eventually led by as many as 23 points in recording the record setting win.
Senior Jim Zinn continued his torrid shooting going 7-of-11 from the floor in scoring a game-high 19 points. Junior Michael Venafra tallied 14 markers and fellow junior David Spadt recorded his first career double-double with 12 points and a career-high matching 12 rebounds. Spadt also added a career-best six steals and junior Kyle Koch added 11 points in the victory.
Mike McGowan led Scranton with 14 points off the bench. Nick Alfier totaled 13 points and junior Brian O’Donnell added 12 tallies in the loss.