DOYLESTOWN, Pa. – Eastern University Men's Basketball rallied from the 11-point second half deficit to tie the game, but the host Delaware Valley Aggies made a shot at the buzzer to claim a 59-57 win. The loss is the sixth-straight road setback in the series for the Eagles.
Draig Ruff led the Eagles with 13 points.
How It Happened:
The Eagles (6-7, 1-1) missed nine shots in a row to start the game and struggled from distance throughout. Though the Eagles finished 22-of-49 (44.9 percent) from the floor, they were only able to connect on three shots outside the paint. The shooting woes continued for the Eagles at the foul line where they made only 12-of-26 from the line.
The Aggies (5-7, 1-1) used 15 first-half points from Damien Washington to build a 30-24 halftime lead. The Eagles went the final five minutes of the half without a field goal and scored all 10 of their first-half baskets in the middle ten minutes of frame.
Del Val stretched the lead to 43-32 and forced an Eastern timeout with a Washington 3-pointer with 15 minutes to play. At that point, the Eagles started to grind their way back into the game, but with no perimeter success, the rally moved forward at a snail's pace.
The Eastern defense stiffened and the despite several missed free throws, the Eagles were able to tie the score at 57-57 when
William Blet split a pair at the line with just under a minute to play.
The Eagles got a stop and had a chance to take the lead, but Blet missed a pair at the line iwith eight seconds to play.The Aggies missed a shot with under a second left, but two Eastern players battled for the rebound and knocked the ball out of play.
Del Val took a timeout with .6 on the clock. Washington worked his way toward the basket off a screen and converted a lay-up on the inbounds pass as time expired. Washington, who played all 40 minutes despite foul trouble, finished with a game-high 26 points.
Michael Bowlers and Blet joined Ruff in double-figures. Blet had ten points and was credited with six rebounds and two blocks. Bowlers had 11 points and ten rebounds.
The loss is the sixth consecutive defeat at James Work Gymnasium for the Eagles. The Doylestown gym has been a place of frustration over the years for the Eagles as they are only 2-11 in 13 games since joining the MAC in 2008.
Both teams go to 1-1 and sit in a six-way tie for second in the early season race in the MAC Freedom.
Coach Pruessner Says:
"We had a lot of ways to win that game, but we did not. We had a great defensive effort for most of the game, but we were not able to execute on the offensive end or at the line. Draig was really efficient on the offensive end and he took several charges. This has been a really tough place for us to play, and this year was no different. I think we see that winning on the road is a tough thing to do in this league, but we have to figure out a way to do it."
Up Next:
The Eagles will look to bounce back at FDU-Florham on Wednesday night.
