The Eastern University men's basketball team trailed by as many as nine early, but they scored 45 points in the second half to down visiting Delaware Valley College 75-69 in the regular season finale for both sides. Alex Nelson hit four three pointers after the break on his way to a game-high 23 points to lead the Eagles into the second seed in the upcoming Freedom Conference Playoffs. The Eagles will host 3rd seeded Misericordia on Wednesday night at 7:00 pm.

The Aggies used an inside-out attack early to forge an 18-9 lead after six and a half minutes. Senior center Darryl White scored five points early and James Jones, Brian Hilinski, and Chris Ellis all connected from deep. The Eagles, meanwhile, got shots they were looking for against Del Val's scrambling traps, but only Nelson seemed able to finish early. The first year forward had nine of the Eagles' first eleven points. 

Nelson scored his fourth basket at the 13 minute mark to bring the Eagles to within seven. The home side then cut the deficit to three on a put-back from Eddie Mbanda and a tough elbow jumper from Martin Soaries. The Aggies built their edge back to eight as Jones, who finished with a team-high 20, made a pair of free throws and then set up Hilinski for a three.

The Aggies then extended pressure and tried to scramble with double teams again, The Eagles escaped the pressure and Paul Trusty found Chris Myers on the left block for an open lay-up. Soaries pulled the Eagles to within 23-19 with a tough elbow jumper. Derek Wright then answered a pair of White free throws with a three pointer in transition, and Soaries then tied the contest on a baseline jumper splitting a pair of free throws. 

After Del Val scored to go up 27-25, Myers mad a big three pointer to give the home team their first lead since the opening minute. The visitors answered with a 6-0 burst, but their final hoop gave the Eagles time for one more possession. Soaries drove to the basket late in the shot clock and finished with his left hand to pull Eastern to within three as the teams went to the lockers.

White and Jones each scored seven in the first half to lead the Aggies to the 33-30 lead. Soaries and Nelson both made 4-6 shots for nine points apiece. Eastern shot 46% from the floor while holding the Aggies to 36%, but Del Val held a 7-1 edge at the foul line and forced the Eagles into eight turnovers.

Just over two minutes into the second half, the Eagles tied the game at 37-37 on a brilliant three-point play from Wright. The junior captain stripped White of the ball under the basket and raced the length of the floor for the equalizer. Wright finished the game 8-9 from the foul line. The Aggies responded by pounding the ball inside to White. Their senior center made three straight trips to the foul line, but could only finish 3-6. Chris Ellis then put Del Val up 5 with a transition basket at the fifteen minute mark.

Mbanda then made his presence felt at the defensive end with a steal that sparked an 11-2 run. Wright made a pair of free throws, then Nelson solved the Del Val zone with consecutive three pointers from the same spot on the floor. Both hoops came on passes out of the post fromMbanda. Nelson then answered a pair of free throws from Jones with his fourth three of the game on an assist from Myers.

The Aggies battled back and grabbed a three point edge with six minutes to play on a Jon Evans three on a nice screen and fade play with Jones. Mbanda then made five straight on a sixteen foot rainbow jumper from the right and a transition three point play on a feed from Soaries. Myers set up the play with a trap and a steal at half court. Up 60-58 with five and a half minutes to play, the Eagles would not trail the rest of the way.

Wright had five points and three rebounds down the stretch, and Myers went 4-4 from the line, but the play of the game came late in the shot clock with just over three minutes to play. The Eagles led by two and Nelson got the ball thirty feet from the basket. The first year forward saw the shot clock winding down and had to shake a defender. He closed to 23 feet and fired a shot over White that dropped in for a five point edge. 

Prior to the game, the Eastern program recognized the efforts of Rafael Twiggs and Myers. Myers finished the day with nine points, five rebounds, and six assists in 40 minutes. He took just four shots. Coach Nadelhoffer commented on the win saying, "This was a great way for us to close out the regular season. We got great contributions from several different players, and I am really proud of the way this group has played together. We wanted to have a chance to play another game at home, and we are really looking forward to hosting a playoff game on Wednesday.'

Wright finished with fifteen points and a team-high 10 rebounds, and Soaries scored 11. Jones led the Aggies with 20. White scored 18 and gathered a game-high thirteen boards, but the Aggie post player made just 4-17 from the floor; he also blocked four shots.

Delaware Valley (12-13, 5-9 Freedom) completes their season in sixth place in the league. Details on tickets and Wednesday's game will be announced online Monday.