WARRIORS BOTTLE LIGHTNING; ADVANCE TO SECOND ROUND OF NCAAs

WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. – The Lycoming College men’s basketball team hosted Lehman College, Thursday evening, in the first round of the NCAA Division III National Tournament. The Warriors overcame a four-point halftime deficit to defeat the Lightning 74-68. Lycoming improves to 21-7, while Lehman ends their season with a mark of 22-7.

Sophomore Jonathan Pribble (Woolrich, Pa.; Central Mountain) continued to have the hot hand for the Warriors, scoring a game-high 32 points and pulling down 10 rebounds to guide Lycoming to victory. After shooting just 2-of-7 from the field in the first half, Pribble scored the Warriors’ first 15 points of the second half on 6-of-8 shooting. The end result of Pribble’s run was a three-point lead Lycoming would never lose.

The Warriors opened the game strong, scoring the first five points and building a 10-4 lead four minutes into the contest. However, a 13-0 run by the Lightning turned the tables and quieted the crowd for a moment as the visiting team led 17-10 midway through the half. Lehman led by as many as 10 in the first half but an 8-2 run by Lycoming over the final four minutes of the first period narrowed the gap to 38-34.

In the second half, Pribble supplied the offense as the Warriors’ defense limited the Lightning to just eight points in 12 minutes. The 19-8 run gave Lycoming a 53-46 lead with eight minutes to play. Lehman rediscovered their offense and attempted to make a comeback, but the Warriors answered the challenge and eventually extended their advantage to 71-61 with 1:32 to play. Lycoming gave the Lightning some hope by hitting just 2-of-6 free throws in the closing seconds. Lehman responded with a pair of three-pointers to close within four, but could not get any closer as time expired.

The Warriors’ inside game again played the perfect compliment to Pribble as seniors L.J. Huggler (St. Marys, Pa.; St. Marys) and Matt Stackhouse (Hughesville, Pa.; Hughesville) scored 14 and eight points, respectively. Stackhouse also pulled down 10 rebounds, while Huggler grabbed six boards. Junior Shaun Morris (Camp Hill, Pa.; Trinity) led the team with six assists, while chipping in seven points. Patrick Baylor (So./Broomall, Pa.; Cardinal O’Hara) provided a spark off the bench, hitting two three-pointers in the first half.

The Lightning were led by junior Miguel Jorge (Bronx, N.Y.) with 16 points and five rebounds. Seniors Marc Domin (Bronx, N.Y.) and Cyril Belfor (Yonkers, N.Y.) each added 12 points – Belfor’s came on four first-half three-pointers. Domin also pulled down a team-high nine rebounds. Senior Jonathan Rojas (Bronx, N.Y.) chipped in 11 markers and Andre Bagot (Bronx, N.Y.) led the squad with five assists.

Lycoming advances to the second round of the NCAA playoffs for the second time in three seasons. The Warriors will travel to Jersey City, N.J., to take on New Jersey City University on Saturday, March 6. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.