LYCOMING MEN’S BASKETBALL CAGES BULLDOGS

WILLIAMSPORT, PA – The Lycoming College men’s basketball team hosted DeSales University, Saturday evening, for a key Freedom Conference showdown. The Warriors snapped a two-game losing skid with an important 77-72 victory over the Bulldogs. Both teams entered the contest tied for first place in the conference but with the win Lycoming improves to 5-1 in the Freedom and 10-7 overall. DeSales drops to 4-2 and 12-3.

The first half of the game was back and forth with four lead changes, five tied scores, and the largest lead by either squad being a seven-point edge for the Bulldogs. DeSales carried a slim 36-33 lead into halftime.

Early in the second half it was more of the same as both teams struggled for control. Midway through the period, the Warriors went on a 9-0 run to open up a 59-62 lead with 6:28 to play. Brad Musser (Fr./Mifflinburg, PA; Mifflinburg) sparked the run with a three-pointer and Jonathan Pribble (Fr./Woolrich, PA; Central Mountain) capped it with a lay-up and a jumper.

The Bulldogs battled back to within three points on two occasions, but could get no closer. Pounding the ball inside to Matt Stackhouse (Jr./Hughesville, PA; Hughesville), Lycoming extended their lead to nine points with just over a minute to play. From there, Tommy Wesner (Sr./Dillsburg, PA; Northern) iced the game by hitting 6-of-8 free throws down the stretch.

Stackhouse led all players with 27 points and 12 rebounds. He also blocked four shots. Pribble added 20 points and seven rebounds. Wesner tallied 15 markers while recording a game-high seven assists.

DeSales was led by Kyle Koch (So./Lehighton, PA; Lehighton) with 17 points. Jeff Zinn (Jr./Hanover, PA; Delone Catholic) and Joe Teprovich (Sr./McAdoo, PA; Marian) each added 13 markers. Jeff Clifford (Jr./Allentown, PA; Salisbury) chipped in 12 points and David Bright (So./Levittown, PA; William Tennent) led the team with 10 rebounds.

“This was a good win for us,” said Lycoming assistant coach Jamie Spencer. “We had a lot of players step up in key situations tonight, especially some of our younger guys, and that’s what we need in big games like this. It’s good to get back in the win column, but now we have to get ready for Scranton.”

The Warriors are at home again on Wednesday, January 29, hosting the University of Scranton. Tip-off is scheduled for approximately 8 p.m. following the women’s half of the doubleheader.