WARRIOR MEN’S BASKETBALL DEFEATS ROYALS

WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. – The Lycoming College men’s basketball team opened up their Freedom Conference schedule, Wednesday evening, hosting the University of Scranton. The Warriors held a lead for all but 66 seconds of the contest, but still needed a late run to secure the 77-70 victory. Lycoming remains perfect at 4-0 overall, while the Royals fall to 2-2 on the season.

Brian O’Donnell (Sr./Mahopac, N.Y.; John F. Kennedy) scored the game’s first bucket and gave Scranton a 4-3 lead on a pair of free throws just more than a minute into the contest. Brad Musser (Jr./Mifflinburg, Pa.; Mifflinburg) answered with a three-pointer to give the Warriors a lead they would never lose. The Royals trailed by just two points after a pair of three-pointers, but a 7-2 run over the final four minutes of the period gave Lycoming a 37-30 advantage at the intermission.

In the second half, the Warriors stretched their lead to as many as 16 points and held a comfortable 68-55 cushion with six minutes to play. Scranton, however, scored 10 unanswered points in a two-minute span to pull back within a possession. A three-pointer by Mike McGowan (So./Lansdale, Pa.; Lansdale Catholic) pulled the Royals within a single point at 71-70 with 1:36 to play. But the comeback could not be completed as Jeremiah Edison (Sr./Mifflinburg, Pa.; Mifflinburg) answered with a lay-up and Lycoming went 4-for-4 from the free throw line in the final 13 seconds to seal the win.

The Warriors were led by freshman Kevin Morris (Camp Hill, Pa.; Trinity) with 18 points – all on three-point field goals. Jonathan Pribble (Jr./Woolrich, Pa.; Central Mountain) added 16 points and a team-high 10 rebounds. Curtis Mays (Jr./Philadelphia, Pa.; University City) and Edison each chipped in nine markers off the bench. Musser led the squad with six assists, while also scoring nine points.

Scranton was led by O’Donnell with a game-high 28 points and 11 rebounds. Randy Arnold (Fr./Doylestown, Pa.; Central Bucks West) added 15 points, while Darren Cannon (So./Paupack, Pa.; Wallenpaupack) contributed 11 points and seven assists.

Lycoming travels to Drew University, Saturday afternoon, for their next conference contest. Tip-off is set for 3 p.m. following the women’s game.