Warriors Snap Skid at Drew
Small Lineup Makes Up for Missing Size
Box score

MADISON, N.J. --- Lycoming men’s basketball righted the ship against the Rangers and dispelled a three-game losing skid in defeating Drew University 51-47 in a Freedom Conference match on Saturday afternoon.  The Warriors improved to 8-7, 2-2 on the season while Drew falls to 6-9, 1-3.

Lycoming was forced to face the Rangers without three of its big men, all three freshmen.  Two of the first year players, Greg Sye (Chantilly, Pa./Chantilly) and Shawn Harper (Piscataway, N.J./St. Joseph’s-Metuchen), have seen much time starting this season.  Drew did command a 28-12 advantage in scoring in the paint, but the lack of height didn’t stop the Warriors with from winning the rebounding battle 39-33 and holding the Rangers to only five second-chance points.

Senior forward Jonathan Pribble (Woolrich, Pa./Central Mountain) led all scorers with 19 points on 6-of-15 shooting including a trio of three-point hits.  He also pulled down six rebounds.  Sophomore Dave Wilson (Pottsville, Pa./Pottsville) grabbed a team-best 10 boards to go along with eight points.  Senior point guard Brad Musser (Mifflinburg, Pa./Mifflinburg) made his return after a one-game injury hiatus to post nine points.

Chris Lopez led the Rangers with 12 points and nine rebounds.  His only support came from in the form of 11 points from Damon DiLorenzo.  No other Ranger had more than six points.

After falling down 9-5 in the first four minutes of the game, the Warriors hit their stride thanks to a pair of three-pointers from Pribble and one from senior guard Patrick Baylor (Broomall, Pa./Cardinal O’Hara).  Wilson added yet another long-distance score to force Drew into a timeout down 21-13 with 6:08 to play in the half.  The Warriors maintained at least a four-point edge on the way to a 27-19 halftime lead.

Lycoming opened the second frame with its foot still firmly on the gas pedal.  Musser canned a three with 16:52 to play to extend the Warriors lead to 33-23.  Drew tried to hedge-in on the Warriors’ momentum, but Lycoming responded by pushing its lead to 11 points at 44-33 following a lay-up with 6:45 left by sophomore Matt McGair (Mt. Laurel, N.J./Moorestown).

Drew made a push at the lead during the final minutes of play, but couldn’t get any closer than three points with 0:23 remaining before Lycoming ran out the clock.

The Warriors are next in action on Wednesday, January 18, as Lycoming welcomes Wilkes University to Williamsport.  The Freedom Conference showdown is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. in Lamade Gymnasium.