WARRIOR MEN’S BASKETBALL WINS BY ONE IN OVERTIME

WILLIAMSPORT, PA – The Lycoming College men’s basketball team hosted Wilkes University, Wednesday evening, for a key Freedom Conference match-up. The Colonels overcame a 15-point, second-half deficit to force overtime, but the Warriors outscored Wilkes 5-4 in the extra period to claim the 67-66 victory. Lycoming improves to 13-7 overall and 8-1 in the conference. The Colonels fall to 14-5 and 5-4.

The story of the first half was the play of the Warrior bench. As Wilkes pulled out to an early 10-6 advantage, three of Lycoming’s starters quickly found themselves in foul trouble. Tommy Wesner (Sr./Dillsburg, PA; Northern) picked up two fouls in the first 2:25 and did not play the remainder of the half. The Warriors’ inside tandem of Matt Stackhouse (Jr./Hughesville, PA; Hughesville) and L.J. Huggler (Jr./St. Marys, PA; St. Marys) each accumulated two fouls by the 11:23 mark of the contest and wouldn’t play the final eight minutes.

Lycoming’s bench, however, responded to the challenge and built a 33-22 lead by halftime. Jonathan Pribble (Fr./Woolrich, PA; Central Mountain) and Brad Musser (Fr./Mifflinburg, PA; Mifflinburg) led the effort with eight points each.

The Warriors scored the first four points of the second half to stretch their lead to 15 and then maintained 10-point cushion for much of the half. The Colonels, however, would not go away and began chipping away at Lycoming’s lead as the game entered its final five minutes. With 1:13 to play, Dave Plisko (Jr./Sugar Notch, PA; Hanover) hit a three-pointer for Wilkes that tied the game at 62-62. Neither team would score again in regulation.

The aggressive defense and physical play that was defining the game carried over into overtime as the two squads played the first three minutes scoreless. The Colonels were the first to break the drought on a lay-up by Joe Stein (Sr./York, PA; York Catholic) with 2:06 to play that put them ahead 64-62. Wilkes had a chance to extend their lead following a Lycoming turnover, but after two missed shots the Warriors regained possession with a minute to play.

Wesner, who had been 1-of-7 from beyond the arc to that point in the game, brought the ball up the court and launched a three-point attempt from 30 feet that touched nothing but net, giving Lycoming a 65-64 lead with 47 seconds to play. Plisko answered quickly with a lay-up to put the Colonels back in front, 66-65, as the clock ticked to 27 seconds. Wesner again brought the ball up court, this time driving the lane and drawing a foul. He calmly drained both free throws, making the score 67-66 with 19 seconds to play. Wilkes had a chance to win the game but a jumper by Ryan Milford (So./Ashley, PA; Hanover) wouldn’t fall and time ran out as the teams scrambled for the rebound.

Wesner was the Warriors’ leading scorer with 17 points, including all five of Lycoming’s overtime points. Huggler added 13 markers and Pribble tallied 12 points to go with 10 rebounds. Musser chipped in 10 points off the bench. Stackhouse was held to just six points, but pulled down a game-high 16 rebounds. Jeremiah Edison (So./Mifflinburg, PA; Mifflinburg) came off the bench to record 10 rebounds.

Plisko was the game’s leading scorer with 27 points. Mike Morgan (Jr./Taylor, PA; Riverside) added 11 markers.

Lycoming will be at home again on Saturday, February 8, when they host FDU-Florham. Tip-off is scheduled for 3 p.m.