LYCOMING MEN’S BASKETBALL TAMES BULLDOGS IN REGULAR SEASON FINALE

WILLIAMSPORT, PA – The Lycoming College men’s basketball team hosted DeSales University, Saturday afternoon, to wrap up the regular season. The Warriors used another second-half comeback to defeat the Bulldogs 73-59. The victory gives Lycoming a 17-7 record overall and a 10-4 mark in the Freedom Conference. The Warriors also clinched a share of the regular-season Freedom Conference title with King’s who also finished at 10-4 in the conference. DeSales falls to 16-9 and 7-7 with the loss.

The Bulldogs controlled all the action in the opening minutes, building a 9-0 lead before the Warriors scored their first basket when Jason Black (Sr./Duncannon, PA; Susquenita) connected on a three-point field goal. DeSales extended their lead to as many as 12 before Lycoming closed to within six at halftime.

In the second half, the Bulldogs stretched their lead to 10, but with more than 17 minutes to play it was not nearly enough. With 10 minutes to play, the Warriors trailed by six but a pair of three-pointers by Tommy Wesner (Jr./Dillsburg, PA; Northern) sandwiched around a lay-up by Chris Napier (Sr./Port Jervis, NY; Minisink Valley) gave Lycoming a two-point lead with 7:34 to play. The momentum had shifted and the Warriors outscored DeSales 20-8 down the stretch to secure the win.

Wesner led all players with 21 points, including five three-pointers. He also tallied three steals and a pair of assists. Matt Stackhouse (So./Hughesville, PA; Hughesville) added 17 points and a team-high nine rebounds. Black reached double-digits with 10 points, while leading the team with four assists. Napier added nine points and eight rebounds.

In other action in the Freedom Conference, King’s defeated FDU-Madison 75-70, Wilkes beat Scranton 80-67, and Drew topped Delaware Valley 69-64. That leaves King’s and Lycoming tied for first at 10-4 in the conference, Scranton in third at 9-5, and Wilkes and DeSales tied for fourth at 7-7. Wilkes defeated DeSales in both head-to-head contests this season, so they become the fourth seed for the playoffs. King’s receives the top seed due to a +9 point differential in head-to-head games with Lycoming this season.

King’s will host Wilkes and Lycoming will host Scranton next Wednesday evening. Tip-off at Lycoming will be 7:30 p.m. The game at King’s will begin at 8 p.m. following the women’s playoff game at 6 p.m.