LYCOMING MEN’S BASKETBALL OUTLASTS KING’S IN DOUBLE-OVERTIME THRILLER

WILLIAMSPORT, PA – The Lycoming College men’s basketball team hosted King’s College in an important Freedom Conference showdown Wednesday evening. The Warriors withstood a ferocious comeback by the Monarchs to win in double-overtime, 96-94. Lycoming is now 11-4 overall and 4-1 within the Freedom Conference. King’s falls to 12-4 overall and 2-3 against conference competition with the loss.

The Warriors controlled most of the action through the first half, shooting 56% from the field. An 11-0 run just before the half put Lycoming up 16 at the break. The second half appeared to be more of the same as the home team extended their advantage to 24 midway through the period.

Things took a dramatic swing in the other direction, however, as the Monarchs nearly pulled off a miraculous comeback. Trailing 20 points with just 4:45 to play, King’s reeled off 21 points in a three-minute span while holding the Warriors to just one. Jamar Stokes scored nine points during the run, including a pair of three-pointers. Dave Marks hit for five points and Dannie Evans nailed three consecutive baskets for seven points to tie the game. Lycoming had two more leads in the final two minutes, but another jumper by Marks tied the game at 79 at the end of regulation.

In the first overtime, Jason Black (Sr./Duncannon, PA; Susquenita) hit a three-pointer with 2:30 remaining to give the Warriors a two-point edge, but Marks again answered for the Monarchs connecting on a jumper with 19 seconds on the clock to send the game to a second overtime.

In the second overtime, King’s seemed poised to steal the victory with a one-point lead and possession with 1:19 to play. They could not convert, however, and Lycoming came back down the floor where Tommy Wesner (Jr./Dillsburg, PA; Northern) stuck a three-pointer with 53 seconds showing on the clock to give the Warriors a two-point lead. A traveling violation on the Monarch’s next possession forced them to foul in the waning seconds. Black sealed the win with a pair of free throws with 16 seconds to play. King’s would add one more bucket to make the final 96-94.

Chris Napier (Sr./Port Jervis, NY; Minisink Valley) led all scorers with 27 points in the contest. He was also the game’s leading rebounder with nine boards. Black added 21 points, including five three-pointers. He also grabbed eight rebounds and led the squad with six assists. Wesner chipped in 17 markers and Matt Stackhouse (So./Hughesville, PA; Hughesville) tallied 14 points for Lycoming.

The Warriors will travel to DeSales University on Saturday for their next game. Tip-off is at 3 p.m. for the second game in a Freedom Conference doubleheader.