MIDDLETOWN, Pa. – It came down to the wire but both Penn State Harrisburg's men's and women's teams will be playing postseason basketball this week. While the ladies wrapped up a playoff spot a few weeks ago, the men needed a win and some help this past Saturday to assure them an extension of their season. They got both.
The Blue & White women (17-8 overall, 13-5 in conference) will host a North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) Championship Tournament first round game Tuesday night, Feb. 19 at the Capital Union Building. The Lions take on South Division foe St. Elizabeth at 7 p.m. The teams split the season series, with Harrisburg taking the first matchup 77-58 in the conference-opener this past December while the Screaming Eagles defended their home court with a 68-63 victory on Feb. 10. The winner heads to Lancaster Bible, the postseason's host institution, to face North Division champion Keuka in the tourney's Final Four.
The men (11-14 overall, 8-6 NEAC) blew out Penn State Abington 104-73 in the regular-season finale on Saturday, Feb. 16 and got the break they needed when Wells defeated Keuka the same day, giving the tiebreaker to the Lions thanks to an 80-72 victory over the Storm earlier this year. Coincidentally, Harrisburg will travel to Abington for a NEAC Championship Tourney first round matchup Tuesday night. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. Harrisburg fell to Abington in a double-overtime thriller on Jan. 27 before exacting revenge this past weekend. The victor heads to Morrisville State to take on the defending league-champions in the semifinal round.