Men's Baskeball

OKI DATA AMERICAS TIP-OFF
Catholic University 64, Delaware Valley College 60

CHESTER (PA) - The Delaware Valley College men's basketball team opened its 2007-08 season with a 64-60 loss to Catholic University in the opening round of the Oki Data Americas Tip-Off at Widener University.

With the loss, the Aggies will now face Williamson Trade School in Saturday's consolation game at 1:00 p.m. Williamson dropped a 67-64 decision to Widener in the first game of the tournament.

Delaware Valley trailed 33-27 at the half and then fell behind by as many as 14, 49-35, with 11:18 remaining in the contest. The Aggies chipped away at the Cardinal advantage over the next 10 minutes and pulled to within two, 59-57, as Tom Signore connected with 1:18 to go.

A pair of Nick Olivero free throws with 34 ticks left gave Catholic a four-point lead, but Matt Beichey hit one of two foul shots for Delaware Valley to make it 61-58 with 20 seconds remaining. Wes Parker made it a two-possession game with one free throw just two seconds later but the Aggies' Jason Seipt scored with six seconds left for a 62-60 score.

Olivero was fouled once again and hit one shot for a three-point lead. Catholic then fouled Seipt with four seconds to go and he missed the front end of a one-in-one. Danny Quinn added a free throw for the Cardinals with a second left on the clock for the 64-60 final.

Delaware Valley shot 50 percent from the field, including a 9-for-16 effort from 3-point land. However, the Cardinals held a 34-22 advantage in the boards and outscored the Aggies by a 22-3 margin in second-chance points.

Ryan Thomas and Zack Van Dyke paced Delaware Valley with 13 points apiece. Thomas also added five steals, three rebounds and three assists. Seipt finished with 10 points, seven assists and five boards while Bill Gelsomini also hit double figures with 10 points.

Jason Banzhaf led all players with 17 points and seven rebounds for the Cardinals. Olivero finished with 15 points and Parker contributed 10.