LYCOMING MEN’S BASKETBALL CHALLENGES DIVISION I LAFAYETTE; FALLS SHORT OF UPSET

EASTON, PA – The Lycoming College men’s basketball team traveled to Lafayette College, Wednesday evening, to take on the Division I Leopards. The Warriors gave the home team all they could handle for 30-plus minutes, but Lafayette pulled away down the stretch for an 84-73 victory. Lycoming drops to 5-2 on the season, while the Leopards improve to 6-1.

Lafayette controlled the action early jumping out to a 20-13 lead 12 minutes into the contest. The Warriors, however, made some adjustments and settled into the game, chipping away at their deficit and eventually taking a 29-26 lead into halftime.

In the second half, Lycoming came out on fire from the outside. Three consecutive three-pointers by Jonathan Pribble (So./Woolrich, Pa.; Central Mountain) and Shaun Morris (Jr./Camp Hill, Pa.; Trinity) gave the Warriors a 42-32 lead with 16 minutes to play. The Leopards chipped away at Lycoming’s lead over the next eight minutes and tied the game at 55-55 with 8:33 remaining. Lafayette then outscored the Warriors 19-8 over the next six minutes to open up an 11-point lead. Lycoming attempted one last comeback scoring seven unanswered points to close within four, but the Leopards connected on 6-of-9 free throws in the final 90 seconds to secure the victory.

Pribble led the Warriors with a game-high 23 points, including five three-pointers. He also grabbed five rebounds. Matt Stackhouse (Sr./Hughesville, Pa.; Hughesville) added 21 points and a game-high 13 rebounds. Jeremiah Edison (Jr./Mifflinburg, Pa.; Mifflinburg) came off the bench to score 10 points and grab eight rebounds. L.J. Huggler (Sr./St. Marys, Pa.; St. Marys) also pulled down eight rebounds while scoring four points. Brad Musser (So./Mifflinburg, Pa.; Mifflinburg) handed out a game-high six assists.

Lafayette was led by Sean Knitter with 20 points and Justin DeBerry with 19. Winston Davis and Rob Dill added 14 and 12 points, respectively, as the Leopards had four players in double digits.

Lycoming out-rebounded Lafayette 45-29, but turned the ball over 20 times. The Leopards shot 51% from the field and 76% from the free-throw line compared to 41% and 67% for the Warriors.

Lycoming’s next game will be on Saturday, January 3, 2004, when they play host to College Misericordia at 3 p.m.