WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. - Penn State Harrisburg's men's basketball team withstood a formidable effort from Penn College and held on for a 74-68 road victory at Bardo Gymnasium in the United East opener for both squads on Tuesday night, Nov. 28.
For the second time in as many outings, Donyae Baylor-Carroll came to life in the second half to finish with a game-high 19 points and four steals. Nate Curry was one rebound shy of a double-double with 13 points and nine boards, as was Alex Leiba with 11 points and nine rebounds. Chase Robinson was the team's fourth player to reach double figures with 12 points.
Trailing 65-64 with less than three minutes remaining, the Lions (6-1, 1-0 United East) turned to the duo of Baylor-Carroll and Curry to come through in the clutch. The pair answered the call, with Baylor-Carroll going 5-for-5 from the free throw line and Curry completing a crucial old-fashioned 3-point play during a game-sealing span of 74 seconds that saw the visitors pull ahead 72-66 with 1:22 left to play.
The Wildcats (3-5, 0-1 United East) used a Livingston Cross layup to draw to within four at the 1:04 mark but Leiba and Curry added free throws in the final 30 seconds to put the game away.
With things knotted up late in the second half, Baylor-Carroll knocked down a foul-line jumper and converted a scoop layup on back-to-back possessions to put Penn State Harrisburg ahead 64-60 with 5:16 remaining but Gavin Barrett responded with a layup of his own before hitting a 3-ball to put the home team back in front with 4:19 left.
The back-and-forth affair saw nine lead changes and four ties in the second half after the Lions entered halftime trailing 34-31. Penn State Harrisburg led by as much as 16-5 following a Lance Douglas 3-pointer at the 14:27 mark of the opening half. Robinson sparked the offense to begin the contest, scoring seven points in the game's first five minutes.
NOTABLES
- The teams shot nearly identically, with the Lions going 27-of-59 (45.8 percent) from the floor and Penn College shooting 26-of-58 (44.8 percent) from the field.
- Penn State Harrisburg shot 31.3 percent from beyond the arc (5-of-16) and 78.9 percent from the foul line (15-for-19).
- The Wildcats went 8-for-23 from 3-point range (34.8 percent) and 8-of-12 from the charity stripe (66.7 percent).
- The Lions won the rebounding battle 34-23.
- Penn State Harrisburg scored 23 points off 18 Penn College turnovers.
- The Wildcat bench outscored the Penn State Harrisburg reserves 31-12.
- Baylor-Carroll scored a game-high 19 points, including 15 in the second half. The reigning United East Volt Division Defensive Player of the Week added four steals and three assists.
- Curry nearly had a double-double, finishing with 13 points, nine rebounds, and three assists.
- Leiba finished one rebound shy of a double-double with 11 points, nine boards, and three blocks.
- Robinson added 12 points and three steals.
- Douglas chipped in with seven points, five rebounds, and a pair of steals.
- Dylan Moore and Larry Onabanwo provided a spark off the bench with four points apiece.
WHO'S NEXT?
The Lions continue conference play when they host United East foe Gallaudet at the Capital Union Building on Saturday afternoon.
STAY CONNECTED
Fans can keep up with Penn State Harrisburg Athletics all season long on Instagram, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Threads, and Youtube using the handle @pshbgathletics.