BETHLEHEM, Pa. – DeSales closed the game on a 13-6 run over the final 4:10 and The University of Scranton men's basketball team (2-2) dropped a 72-66 decision to the Bulldogs (5-0) in non-conference action on Saturday afternoon at Johnston Hall in Bethlehem.

The game was played at Johnston Hall on the campus of Moravian University due to a shattered backboard at DeSales' Billera Hall.

A three-pointer from the Bulldogs' Dat Lambert with 4:10 to play ignited the 13-6 run that proved to be the difference in the game.

The two teams traded baskets for a majority of the first half and things were deadlocked at 26 apiece with under four minutes left in the half before junior Ryan Ems (Voorhees, N.J./Eastern Regional) hit a jumper to start an 8-0 spurt for Scranton. Consecutive three-pointers from junior Stephen Braunstein (Colts Neck, N.J./Christian Brothers Academy) and senior Jack Brockett (Shamong, N.J./Seneca) made it 34-26 in favor of Scranton with 1:48 left and the visitors took a 38-33 lead into the locker room.

DeSales was able to rally though and the Royals did not lead by more than six in the second half before the Bulldogs evened the affair at 50 apiece with 11:24 to play. A jumper from Braunstein quickly regained the lead for Scranton and a resulting 9-2 run opened up a 59-52 edge with 7:35 to play. A few minutes later, the Royals led 60-59 when Lambert hit the afore-mentioned three to give the Bulldogs the lead for good and Scranton was unable to get any closer than three in the final three minutes.

Braunstein continued his hot start to the season with 16 points on the afternoon for the Royals, while Ems tallied 13 and freshman Will McLoughlin (Glen Rock, N.J./Glen Rock) added 14 points off the bench.

Braunstein has scored 16 points or more in all four games thus far.

Matt Kachelries paced DeSales with 20 points, six rebounds and six assists in the game.

Scranton shot at a 41.5% (22-of-53) clip from the floor and 25.0% (4-of-16) from deep, while DeSales was 25-of-56 (44.6%) from the field and 29.4% (5-of-17) from three-point range.

The Royals return home to host Arcadia on Tuesday night with opening tip in the John Long Center slated for 7 p.m.

--ROYALS--