CARLISLE, Pa. – The Dickinson men’s basketball team got 22 points each from Ryan Leskauskas and David Petrusev, but it was not enough as the Red and White were unable to overcome an eight-point halftime deficit to the visiting Eastern University falling 87-79 to the Eagles in non-conference action at the Kline Center.
- The teams were trading buckets early as the Eagles led 10-8 four minutes in with Petrusev accounting for all the Dickinson points.
- Dickinson continued to stay close, but just not able to get over the hump with Brandon Wiercinski, Leskauskas and Petrusev cutting the margin to one 15-14.
- Following two at the line for Arkese Claiborne, layups from Aaron Bailey, Joey Dopirak and Luis Ruiz finally put DC ahead at 20-17 at the halfway point of the period.
- A few minutes later Zubair Lee and Petrusev exchanged dunks (24-22 DC), but the Eagles responded with the next nine to send EU to a 31-24 edge with 4:49 left.
- A layup for Ruiz and foul shots from Dopirak and Wiercinski pulled DC to within 33-31, before Daron Sherman, Anthony Williams and Claiborne racked up six in a row to take the 39-31 lead to the locker room.
- Petrusev notched the first basket of the period as he tipped home a Bailey miss, but a free throw by Claiborne kicked off an 11-0 run ending on a Josh Harris layup to push the advantage to 50-33 with three minutes gone.
- A three-ball by Leskauskas along with points for Dopirak and Ruiz put the score at 57-39, before four in a row from Nick Mate opened it to 62-39.
- The Devils attempted to start a comeback by getting to the free throw line with makes by Isaiah Edmond, Dopirak, Leskauskas and Petrusev leaving the score 62-45 with 11:39 left.
- Following scores for Davin Hernandez and Claiborne, points out of the hands of B.J. McNeil, Edmond and Leskauskas trimmed the gap to 67-54.
- However, four points by Mate coupled with a pair at the stripe for Olise Onyeka left the Eagles ahead 73-60 with five minutes to play.
- Bailey and Leskauskas tallied five straight to make it 75-68 a minute later.
- From there Hernandez, Mate and Sherman would do enough to hold off DC for the 87-79 win.
- Points – Leskauskas and Petrusev (22), Bailey (12)
- Rebounds – Petrusev (11), Dopirak (7)
- Assists – Bailey (5), Petrusev (2)
- Blocks – Ruiz (2), Bailey (1)
- Points – Claiborne and Mate (19), Onyeka (14)
- Rebounds – Onyeka (12), Lee (7)
- Assists – Mate (4), Sherman (3)
- Blocks – Onyeka (2)
- Dickinson (0-2) will return to action next Saturday in Arlington, Virginia against the Saints of Marymount University at 1pm.
