MIDDLETOWN, Pa. - Penn State Harrisburg's men's basketball team used a gutsy defensive effort to disrupt a talented Lancaster Bible squad in a down-to-the-wire 68-65 victory over its United East rival at an electric Capital Union Building on Tuesday night, Jan. 17.
Zegary Scott III netted a team-high 15 points and dished out six assists, while Malik Holland hit a pair of 3-pointers en route to tallying a dozen points. Nate Curry made an immediate impact in his return with a 10-point, 10-rebound double-double.
The Lions (6-8, 3-2 United East) got the better of their conference counterparts in the early going, methodically working their way to a 15-4 lead at the 12:44 mark following a pair of 3-balls from Chase Robinson. The Chargers (7-7, 4-1 United East) cut the deficit to seven but the home team stretched the advantage to as much as 14 points on three occasions in the first half; the latest of which came when Isaiah Milien knocked down a free throw to make it 33-19 with 2:34 left before the break.
Lancaster Bible limited the damage by putting together a 7-3 spurt capped by an Ethan Beachy 3-pointer to end the opening half and draw to within a more manageable 10 heading into the locker room.
The pace remained steady after the break before the Chargers used a couple of jumpers from beyond the arc to cut a nine-point deficit to one at 45-44 with 10:36 left to play.
Penn State Harrisburg ended a three-minute scoring drought when Curry broke the LBC full-court press with a baseball pass that Holland finished off with a transition layup with 9:27 remaining. Isaiah Eggleston added a layup and Scott converted a free throw to give the home team a little breathing room at 50-44 with 8:05 left.
The Lions appeared to be building a cushion after Holland capped off another Curry baseball pass with a layup before knocking down his second triple of the night on the team's ensuing possession but Lancaster Bible again fought back, using a 7-2 run in the closing minutes to pull to within two with 2:13 remaining.
Holland and Andrew Zentner traded free throws before a Grant Sareyka steal and score tied things up at 63-63 with a minute left. Penn State Harrisburg had the answer when Eggleston used his physicality to convert a layup off a Robinson assist and put his team back out in front with 42 seconds remaining. After an LBC miss and foul, Curry hit two free throws with 19 ticks left to make 67-63.
Zentner hit two foul shots to draw the Chargers to within two with six seconds left before Lancaster Bible was forced to foul again. Scott buried the front end but an errant second attempt allowed Sareyka to get off one last attempt from 3-point range just before the buzzer sounded. Sareyka's shot contacted backboard and iron but ultimately the heave proved off the mark.
NOTABLES
- The Lions shot 43.6 percent from the floor, compared to a 40.6 percent clip from Lancaster Bible.
- Penn State Harrisburg held the Chargers to just 27.6 percent shooting (8-of-29) from beyond the arc.
- The home team shot 73.7 percent (14-for-19) from the charity stripe.
- The Lions scored 24 points off 19 Lancaster Bible turnovers.
- Penn State Harrisburg's bench outscored the LBC reserves 23-17.
- Curry recorded a 10-point, 10-rebound double-double and added four assists and three steals.
- Scott netted a team-high 15 points to go along with a game-high six assists and four boards.
- Holland went 4-for-5 from the field and tallied 12 points.
- Milien added eight points and four rebounds in a reserve role.
- Chase Robinson and Alex Leiba each chipped in with six points off the bench.
WHO'S NEXT?
The Lions continue United East play when they host conference foe Wells at the Capital Union Building on Friday night, Jan. 20.
STAY CONNECTED
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