Box Score CENTER VALLEY, Pa. – The FDU-Florham Devils men's basketball team fought back from a seven-point halftime deficit, but ultimately fell in overtime to DeSales University 78-74 on Saturday afternoon.

With the win, the Bulldogs (15-8, 9-3 Freedom) secure a playoff spot in the upcoming Freedom Conference tournament, while the Devils (12-11, 7-5 Freedom) find themselves knotted in a three-way tie for second place in the conference standings.

FDU-Florham senior forward Will Green (Cranford, N.J./Cranford) had a phenomenal game, posting 30 points and 18 rebounds, both career-highs, but it was not enough as the Devils fell short in the extra period. Senior guard Mike Coleman led the way for the Bulldogs with 16 points in the win.

The Devils opened the contest with an 11-4 lead over the first 5:45 of action. With FDU-Florham holding an 18-13 lead, DeSales put together an 11-0 run which provided them a 24-18 advantage. The Bulldogs finished the first half strong and entered intermission with a 36-29 lead.

FDU-Florham began to chip away at the Bulldogs' lead early in the second half and a tip-in by Green with 9:37 to play gave the Devils a 51-50 lead, which completed the comeback. The two teams battled back and forth throughout the stanza and with 38 seconds to go the game was knotted at 63-63.

Coleman managed to draw a foul with seven seconds remaining in regulation, and after converting both free throws the Bulldogs led 65-63. FDU-Florham guard Kevin Furlong (Hazlet, N.J./Raritan) answered the bell by traveling the length of the court and converting an off-balance lay-up to even the score with 1.2 seconds to play. DeSales senior guard Kyle Hash fired a long heave but it was off the mark and the game headed to overtime.

After a made basket by Coleman, Green answered with a free throw and a basket to give the Devils a one-point lead. Trailing 75-72 with 34 seconds remaining in the first overtime, the Devils committed a costly turnover when Hash jumped into the passing lane. Hash promptly found Coleman racing to the basket, who was fouled by Furlong on the break.  Coleman converted the two free throws which secured the victory for DeSales.

Green netted 18 of his 30 points in the second half and finished the game 14-of-22 from the floor. John Flete (Flemington, N.J./North Hampton CC) helped carry the Devils offense by chipping in with 24 points, six assists, and five rebounds in the loss.

The two team's shooting percentages were nearly identical as the Devils shot 40.5 percent (22.2 percent from three-point range) and the Bulldogs shot 40.0 percent (26.3 percent from three-point range). Free throws proved to be the difference in the outcome. DeSales did a stellar job from the line by converting 17-of-21 attempts (81 percent), while the Devils finished 10-for-16 (62.5 percent).

Next up for the Devils:
With only two regular season games remaining, the Devils return home this Tuesday, February 18th for a crucial game against Freedom Conference foe Eastern University. Start time is scheduled for 8 p.m.