Middletown, Pa. – Despite more than two-thirds of the conference schedule yet to be played, the Penn State Harrisburg men's basketball team was starting to feel the pressure of needing a win to stay in the playoff hunt. Thanks to a huge three pointer with just two seconds remaining, the Lions are now hanging in tied with Frostburg State and York College all at 2-3 in the Capital Athletic Conference Standings.
The Southern Virginia Knights went on a 6-1 run to start the game before the Blue and White started to find their groove. With eight minutes to go in the half, the Lions pulled within one of the low scoring first half at 12-11 in favor of the visitors. Harrisburg bounced back in the final minutes with a 7-0 run to take a two point lead to start the second half.
In the second half both teams were fighting valiantly for the must needed win. The entire second half was a one possession battle except for a four point lead thanks to an Arick Sodini (Manalapan, Nj. / St. John Vianney) free throw putting up the home squad 41-37 with 4:49 to go. Every possession counted, Coach Friday knew this as the game came to a close and called a quick timeout just as the Lions were about to turn the ball over with four minutes to play.
With just over 20 seconds to play the Lions trailed by one and desperately needed a score. As the Lions came down the court for a vital possession, Harrisburg leaned on their leading scorer Sodini to hit the go ahead three point dagger to put the Blue and White up by two with eight seconds to play. A Southern Virginia turnover at the other end and two free throws by Marquses Daniels (Philadelphia, Pa./ P.E.T.) iced the game and gave the Lions a 51-47 win.
Penn State Harrisburg, now 2-10 and 2-3 in the CAC, will hit the road to take on Christopher Newport on Saturday January 10th at 4 p.m.