CENTER VALLEY, Pa. – Giovanni Sejuste and Tyler Kerlin scored 43 of the team's 68 points as host DeSales University used a strong second half to defeat the Lebanon Valley men's basketball team 76-68 on Wednesday evening at Billera Hall in Center Valley.
 
The Dutchmen (3-11, 1-2 MAC Freedom) got out to a great start as Kyle Tang found Phil Unangst open on the left wing for a three-pointer on the first possession of the game. The Bulldogs (8-6, 3-0 MAC Freedom) responded with a pair of back-to-back layups and then a three-pointer to go up by four. The run continued as DSU knocked down another three-pointer with 15:19 on the clock to force the Dutchmen to call their first timeout of the game. LVC made a couple of substitutions during the timeout, and Sejuste made one of two free throws to make it a six-point game.
 
DeSales made a trio of buckets, and LVC answered each time as Kerlin hit a step-back jumper in the paint, Unangst made a shot at the line, and then drilled another three-pointer from nearly the same spot as his first one, this time off a pass from Sejuste. The teams traded turnovers, and the Bulldogs hit a jumper in the paint. Luke Chilton tipped in an offensive rebound, and Kerlin cut the deficit to three with a three-pointer on the left wing after a Demarcus Bandy steal. Lebanon Valley kept the pressure on, and after a layup by the hosts, Chilton hit a turnaround jumper before Sejuste cut the lead to one with a layup underneath the rim with seven minutes to go in the half.
 
Both teams struggled to score over the next two minutes, and Kerlin ended the drought with a corner three-pointer that gave the Dutchmen the lead at 22-20. Kerlin then knocked down a turnaround jumper at the elbow to make it a four-point game and force the Bulldogs to call a timeout to try to stop the momentum. DSU scored its first point in four minutes with a free throw. Sejuste drove to the rim for two points before a three-pointer by the Bulldogs made it a one-possession game.
 
Kerlin hit his third three-pointer of the half, and DSU answered back with a three-pointer. Sejuste pushed the advantage to four with a pair of shots at the line, and DeSales made its third consecutive three-pointer to get within one at 31-30. Bandy found Chilton in the paint for a layup while being fouled, and the junior made the extra shot at the line. Tang put the Dutchmen up by six in the final minute of the half on a driving layup before the Bulldogs used a layup and made one of two free throw attempts to make it 36-33 at the half in favor of the Dutchmen.
 
DeSales used the momentum and came out on fire to begin the second half, scoring the first 12 points in the first 2:29 with three straight three-pointers and a steal and dunk to take a 10-point lead. LVC called a timeout to stop the run, and Sejuste made a pair of shots at the line for the Dutchmen's first points of the half. LVC held DeSales scoreless for the next four minutes after their run and added six points to cut the deficit to two. Chilton scored in the paint on a hook shot off a pass from Kerlin, Sejuste had a steal and layup, and then Sejuste knocked down a jumper from the elbow.
 
The Bulldogs hit a three-pointer to end their scoreless run and added a layup. The Dutchmen responded to each bucket to keep the game close as Kerlin knocked down a turnaround shot just outside the paint on the left side, and then Sejuste hit a baseline jumper. Unangst tipped in an offensive board off a missed three-pointer, and after the Bulldogs made one of two free throws, Kerlin tied the score at 52 with 11:31 left on a floating jump shot in the paint. DeSales answered with the next three points, and Kerlin countered with a driving layup.
 
DeSales used strong shooting at the line with four free throws to push the advantage to 59-54. Tang pulled up for a score right outside the lane on the left side before a DSU three-pointer doubled the lead to six at 62-56. The lead was still at six when Sejuste made a jumper at the elbow off a feed from Tang with just over five to play. Neither team scored over the next minute. DeSales continued their strong play at the line with two more free throws, which were answered by a Gannon Perlini pull-up jumper on the baseline.
 
DeSales got the advantage back up to six before Sejuste cut the deficit in half with a traditional three-point play. The Bulldogs hit the backend of two free throws, got a stop on defense, and then hit a three-pointer to take a 71-64 advantage with 1:42 left. Sejuste made four shots at the line over the final two minutes, but DSU was able to hold on to win 76-68.
 
Inside the Box

• Sejuste recorded the first double-double of his career with a season-high 24 points and a season-high 11 rebounds. He was 7-for-15 from the field and 10-for-11 at the line. He has scored at least 14 points in all three conference games. Sejuste had seven points and four rebounds at halftime.
• Kerlin poured in a career-high 19 points, including 13 in the first half. The sophomore hit a trio of three-pointers and was 8-for-15 from the field.
• Unangst and Chilton had nine points each. Chilton pulled down a season-high six rebounds
• Tang finished with four points and four assists.
• The Dutchmen shot 36.8 percent from the floor but were 13-for-16 (81.3percent) at the free throw line.
• LVC received 54 bench points in the game, led by Sejuste and Kerlin with a combined 43.

Up Next
Lebanon Valley will be back on the road this weekend with a trip to Glenside on Saturday to face Arcadia University. Tipoff against the Knights is scheduled for 3 p.m. at Alumni Gymnasium.

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