LYCOMING MEN’S BASKETBALL OUTLASTS WILKES IN OVERTIME

WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. – The Lycoming College men’s basketball team hosted Wilkes University, Tuesday evening, for a critical Freedom Conference contest. The Warriors and Colonels entered the game tied for the fourth and final spot in the conference playoffs. Lycoming now controls their own destiny following a 68-67 victory over Wilkes. The Warriors improve to 17-7 overall and 8-5 within the conference. The Colonels fall to 14-9 and 7-6.

Lycoming struggled to find their shooting touch early in the game, missing nine consecutive shots as Wilkes opened up a 16-5 lead midway through the period. The Colonels would extend their lead to 14 points with seven minutes to play in the half. But the Warriors stepped up their defense and limited Wilkes to just two more field goals the rest of the period. The defensive intensity paid dividends on the offensive end, as well, as a three-pointer by Jonathan Pribble (Jr./Woolrich, Pa.; Central Mountain) with 30 second showing on the clock knotted the game at 26-26 at the intermission.

In the second half, neither team could gain more than a five-point advantage. A three-pointer by Chris Shovlin (Fr./Wilkes-Barre, Pa.; G.A.R.) with 2:09 to play gave the Colonels a 51-49 lead. Kevin Morris (Fr./Camp Hill, Pa.; Trinity), however, answered for Lycoming on their next possession with a lay-up to tie the game at 51-51. Wilkes failed to score on the ensuing possession and as the game entered the final minute Shaun Morris (Sr./Camp Hill, Pa.; Trinity) made a lay-up to give the Warriors a two-point lead. Mike Constantine (Jr./Binghamton, N.Y.; Binghamton) answered for the Colonels with a jumper just inside the arc that knotted the game at 53-53 with 35 seconds to play. Lycoming played for the last shot, but a jumper by Kevin Morris fell short sending the game to overtime.

In the extra period, the Warriors threatened to run away from Wilkes when Kevin Morris hit a three-pointer with 1:31 to play that gave Lycoming a 65-61 advantage. The Colonels, however, got a pair of stops and Shovlin connected on 3-of-4 free throws to pull back within one at 65-64 with 46 seconds showing on the clock. Pribble then found Jeremiah Edison (Sr./Mifflinburg, Pa.; Mifflinburg) alone in the lane for a lay-up and a 67-64 lead with 16 seconds to play. Shovlin, again stepped up for Wilkes, hitting a deep three-pointer to even the score with just eight second remaining.

Following a timeout by the Colonels, the Warriors in-bounded the ball to Pribble who raced up the right sideline and drew a foul before attempting a shot. Pribble made 1-of-2 from the charity strip with four seconds showing on the clock to give Lycoming a 68-67 lead. Wilkes had one last gasp as they got the ball to Shovlin who got off a jumper from about 12 feet, but it bounced off the rim as time expired to preserve the win for the Warriors.

Kevin Morris was Lycoming’s leading scorer with 17 points, including three three-pointers. Edison added 16 points and a game-high 10 rebounds. Pribble scored 15 points and recorded four steals. Shaun Morris contributed nine points, nine rebounds, and a game-high eight assists.

The Colonels were led by John Yanniello (Sr./Old Forge, Pa.; Old Forge) with 17 points. Shovlin ended the game with 15 markers and six assists. Evan Walters (Jr./Boiling Springs, Pa.; Cumberland Valley) added 12 points.

The Warriors are now one game ahead of Wilkes for the fourth and final conference playoff spot. Lycoming will finish the regular season on Saturday, February 19, when they host DeSales University. Tip-off is scheduled for 3 p.m.