COLUMBUS, Ohio -- With the advantage of the area's best student section behind them, you can never count out St. Charles at home. Despite trailing after each of the first three quarters, St. Charles (12-1)  rallied past DeSales (10-3) to take over control of the Central Catholic League in a 43-36 victory in front of a sell out crowd. 

In a game where DeSales led for the majority of the way, St. Charles would refuse to back down. When the Stallions opened up its largest lead of the game at 24-17 with 4:56 to go in the third quarter, St. Charles responded with its biggest run of the contest. Countering with an 8-0 run to take a 25-24 lead, the Cardinals held DeSales scoreless for nearly five minutes, as Caden Sanchez tipped in a shot at the buzzer, sending the Stallions into the final frame with a 26-25 advantage.

While DeSales would strike first in the fourth quarter with a Ryan Peaks pull up jumper to take a 28-25 lead, the Stallions would go cold once again. Going without a point for more than four minutes, DeSales allowed a 7-0 run from St. Charles, putting the Cardinals ahead 32-28 with just over three minutes to go.

Each team would trade punches over the next minute and a half, but DeSales would never be able to get closer than two points. The defensive play of the game came with just over 50 seconds to go, as St. Charles senior center Nick Muszynski blocked Sanchez from behind, which would have tied Friday's contest. 

St. Charles would convert at the line over the next 50 seconds, taking home a 43-36 victory in front of a packed house. The Cardinals' second half execution made the difference, as senior forward Tavon Brown's emergence in the third quarter was key. Brown sparked a 6-0 run on his own when the Cardinals went down by seven points. 

Muszynski led all scorers with 13 points, adding 13 rebounds and four key blocks to his stat line. Brown finished with 12 points, 10 of which in the decisive second half. Junior guard George Javitch added nine points and seven rebounds, while senior guard Braden Budd pitched in eight points, but did his greatest work on the defensive perimeter, holding DeSales sophomore marksman Kayin Derden scoreless.

For DeSales, senior wing Abdul Kanu led all Stallions scorers with 10 points off the bench. Kanu was key in the first half, providing a spark off the second unit to give DeSales an early lead. Peaks finished with nine points, while Sanchez added eight points and eight rebounds, but would only register one field goal in the second half.

Senior wing Luke Hippler had an all-around productive night, finishing with seven points, six rebounds, three assists and three blocks.

With the win, St. Charles takes over sole possession of first place in the CCL. The Cardinals register its 12th win in a row after suffering a loss on the opening night of the season. St. Charles will look for 13 in a row next Friday against Bishop Ready on the road. 

For DeSales, the Stallions fall to 10-3 on the year and 3-1 in league play. DeSales is off for eight days, as it will look to win again on Jan. 28 against Africentric at the Play by Play Classic.