CENTER VALLEY, Pa.—The University of Scranton stayed within striking distance for 30 minutes before Freedom Conference league-leader DeSales University pulled away down the stretch en route to a 79-61 victory at Billera Hall Saturday afternoon.
Freshman guard Mike McGowan came off the bench to lead the Royals, now 2-14 overall and 0-5 in the Freedom Conference, with 14 points and sophomore guard Nick Alfier added a career-high 13. DeSales, which set a new school record with its 13th straight victory and improved to 14-1 overall and 5-0 in the Freedom Conference, was led by forward Jim Zinn with 19 points. Michael Venafra added 14 points and David Spadt had 12 points and a game-high 12 rebounds for the Bulldogs, who shot 57.1 percent from the field (16 of 28) in the first half and 49.1 percent for the game.
Scranton trailed by only seven with 12 minutes remaining, but Spadt scored five points during a 14-5 rally to give the Bulldogs a 16-point lead, 67-51, with 6:45 remaining. DeSales’ largest lead was 23 points, 79-56, with 2:24 remaining.
In the first half, DeSales bolted out to an early double-digit lead and led by as many as 16 before the Royals came storming back to cut the lead to six, 40-34, by intermission. Junior forward Brian O’Donnell added 12 points and six rebounds for Scranton, which was out-rebounded by a 42-24 margin. Alfier’s previous high was a 10-point effort against Richard Stockton College in the opening round of the Albright Tournament on Friday, November 21. The Royals will return to action this Monday, January 26, against the Devils of FDU-Florham in Madison, New Jersey, beginning at 8:00 p.m.
THE UNIVERSITY OF SCRANTON (2-14, 0-5 Conf.) Mike McGowan 5-8 0-0 14; Nick Alfier 5-7 1-1 13; Brian O'Donnell 5-9 1-2 12; Bill Burke 3-6 2-4 9; Michael Riccobono 1-3 0-0 3; Matthew Snyder 1-4 0-0 3; Sean Clark 1-8 1-1 3; Patrick Clabby 1-3 0-0 2; Justin Freid 1-5 0-0 2; Thomas Gangemi 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 23-55 5-8 61. DESALES UNIVERSITY (14-1, 5-0 Conf.) Jim Zinn 7-11 3-3 19; Michael Venafra 4-10 4-4 14; David Spadt 5-10 1-5 12; Kyle Koch 5-9 1-2 11; Drew Christman 3-5 0-0 7; Kevin Welsh 0-2 6-8 6; Harry Morra 2-4 1-1 6; David Bright 2-4 0-1 4; Jeff Clifford 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 28-57 16-24 79. The University of Scranton........ 34 27 - 61 DeSales University............ 40 39 - 79 3-point goals-University of Scranton 10-28 (Mike McGowan 4-7; Nick Alfier 2-4; Bill Burke 1-2; Brian O'Donnell 1-2; Matthew Snyder 1-4; Michael Riccobono 1-2; Thomas Gangemi 0-2; Sean Clark 0-5), DeSales University 7-25 (Jim Zinn 2-5; Michael Venafra 2-4; Drew Christman 1-3; David Spadt 1-4; Harry Morra 1-3; Jeff Clifford 0-1; Kevin Welsh 0-2; Kyle Koch 0-3). Fouled out--University of Scranton-None, DeSales University-None. Rebounds-University of Scranton 24 (Bill Burke 7), DeSales University 42 (David Spadt 12). Assists-University of Scranton 15 (Mike McGowan 4), DeSales University 18 (Jeff Clifford 5). Total fouls-University of Scranton 20, DeSales University 15. A-750