WARRIOR MEN’S HOOPS HANGS ON TO TOP KING’S IN OVERTIME

WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. – The Lycoming College men’s basketball team hosted King’s College, Wednesday evening, for a key Freedom Conference match-up. The Warriors built a 13-point lead in the first half, only to have the Monarchs fight back and force overtime. But Lycoming came up with the final basket to hang on for a 77-74 victory. The Warriors improve to 16-5 overall and 8-2 within the conference with the win. King’s falls to 17-5 and 8-3. The victory also moves Lycoming into a first-place tie with DeSales University, while the Monarchs slip to third in the league.

The Warriors used a dominating defensive performance in the first half to build a seemingly comfortable margin of 32-19 at the intermission. Matt Stackhouse (Sr./Hughesville, Pa.; Hughesville) was the offensive catalyst for Lycoming, coming off the bench to score 13 points in just nine minutes. At the defensive end, the Warriors limited King’s to just 21% shooting from the field and out-rebounded the Monarchs 24-14.

King’s, however, found the range in the second half shooting 52% from the field and 60% from behind the arc. Brian Horgan and Marty O’Hora sparked the Monarchs with 21 and 13 points, respectively in the period. Lycoming was able to weather the storm for most of the half, leading by eight with 5:59 to play. But King’s continued to chip away and finally tied the game at 63-63 on a three-pointer by Horgan.

Brad Musser (So./Mifflinburg, Pa.; Mifflinburg) answered for the Warriors with a jumper in the lane to make it 65-63. L.J. Huggler (Sr./St. Mary’s, Pa.; St. Mary’s) stretched the lead to four points with 1:16 to play after converting two free throws following Horgan’s fifth foul.

Jamar Stokes connected on two free throws of his own to pull the Monarch’s within 65-67 with 1:01 on the clock. O’Hora then gave King’s their first lead since the 16:15 mark of the first half with a three-pointer that put the visitors ahead 68-67. Jonathan Pribble (So./Woolrich, Pa.; Central Mountain) made 1-of-2 from the charity stripe with five seconds showing on the clock to knot the score at 68-68 and send the game to overtime.

In the extra period, Lycoming scored first when Stackhouse made 1-of-2 free throws. Jonathan Veet drove for a layup to put the Monarchs ahead 70-69. Landon Gariel then added a free throw to push King’s lead to two. Shaun Morris (Jr./Camp Hill, Pa.; Trinity) responded with a three-pointer to give the Warriors a 72-71 lead with three minutes to play. Another free throw by Gabriel and a jumper by Brit Moore gave the Monarchs a 74-72 lead with 1:16 showing on the clock. Stackhouse made a layup at the other end to knot the score at 74-74 with 53 seconds to play.

King’s missed a jump shot on their next possession and Lycoming grabbed the rebound with 29 seconds to play, giving them the opportunity to play for the last shot. After a timeout to set up the play, Musser drove down the right side of the lane intending to kick the ball out to the wing. The 5’10” point guard, however, kept the ball and laid it high off the glass as three defenders converged on him. The ball found its way into the hoop as a foul was called, giving Lycoming a three-point opportunity with four seconds to play. Musser converted the free throw for a 77-74 lead and a desperation three by the Monarchs fell short as time expired.

Stackhouse led the Warriors with 28 points and 11 rebounds in just his second game back from a month-long injury. Pribble added 17 markers, five rebounds and four assists. Huggler chipped in 14 points and five boards.

For King’s, Horgan also tallied 28 points, while grabbing seven rebounds. O’Hora added 15 points.

Lycoming will be in action again on Saturday, February 14, when they host FDU-Florham in another Freedom Conference match-up. Tip-of is at 3 p.m.