NCAA Division III Men's Basketball Championship Tournament – First Round
Penn State Harrisburg at No. 6 John Hopkins
Friday, March 6 | 7 p.m. | Baltimore, Md. | Johns Hopkins | Goldfarb Gymnasium
Penn State Harrisburg will compete in the NCAA Division III Men's Basketball Championship Tournament for the first time in program history after winning the 2020 North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) Championship. The Lions will face No. 6 Johns Hopkins at Goldfarb Gymnasium at the Newton White Athletic Center on Friday evening, March 6.
Live Video
(Watch) The game will be streamed live and for free courtesy of Johns Hopkins.
Live Stats
(Follow) Fans can keep up with all the action in real time with live stats.
Going to the Game
(Directions) Ticket prices for Friday's contest are as follows: $12 for adults, $7 for senior citizens, students (with ID) and children. Children two and under will receive free admission. Doors to Goldfarb Gymnasium will open one hour prior to the start of competition on both Friday and Saturday.
Spirit Bus
(Register) All Penn State Harrisburg students, faculty and staff are invited to join Blue & White fans as the group will travel to Johns Hopkins for the men's basketball team's NCAA Tournament First-Round contest on Friday. The bus leaves from the Capital Union Building at 3 p.m. for the game that tips off in Baltimore, Md. at 7 p.m. All admission fees have been taken care of so register now to reserve your spot.
Last Time Out
(Recap) Penn State Harrisburg erased a five-point deficit in the final 1:12 of regulation and completed a furious overtime comeback to defeat Lancaster Bible 76-69 in the North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) Championship Game at the Capital Union Building on Saturday afternoon, Feb. 29. Donyae Baylor-Carroll was named the NEAC Tournament's most valuable player (MVP) thanks to his 23 points, eight of which came in the extra session, four assists, three rebounds, and three steals.
Exorcising the Demons
Prior to Saturday's conference championship victory, Penn State Harrisburg had appeared in two conference title games (2011, 2012), twice coming up just short in overtime. The Lions hosted the 2011 NEAC Championship Game but were edged by Wells in the extra period before again falling by single digits in overtime at Morrisville State in the conference title matchup the following year. Last weekend, the Blue & White experienced a bit of déjà vu but this time secured the program's first-ever NEAC Championship in thrilling fashion.
The First Dance
Penn State Harrisburg's men's basketball team is making its first NCAA Division III Championship Tournament appearance in program history. The Lions won the NEAC Championship to clinch the conference's automatic berth to the big dance.
Making History
In addition to making its first trip to the NCAA Tournament, Penn State Harrisburg also matched the single-season program record of 20 victories this winter. The 2011-12 squad also won 20 games but came up just short of going dancing, falling in overtime at Morrisville State in the NEAC Championship Game that year.
Coach Friday In the NCAA Tournament
Head coach Don Friday returns to the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament after last leading Lycoming to the big dance in 2004. Under his leadership, the Warriors went 1-1 in the tourney that spring. As an assistant under legendary head coach Pat Flannery, he helped lead Lebanon Valley to a unforgettable run in the 1994 NCAA Tournament that culminated with a thrilling national championship victory over New York University (NYU).
It's a Major Award
(Story) After his team clinched the regular-season conference championship, Penn State Harrisburg head coach Don Friday was voted the NEAC Men's Basketball Coach of the Year by his peers. Thanks to his outstanding play this season, sophomore guard Donyae Baylor-Carroll was named the NEAC Men's Basketball Player of the Year. Nate Curry earned the NEAC Men's Basketball Rookie of the Year accolade after turning in a stellar freshman campaign.
All-Conference Honors
(Story) In addition to the team's sweep of major awards, four Penn State Harrisburg players recently received NEAC All-Conference recognition. Sophomore Donyae Baylor-Carroll and freshman Nate Curry earned first-team all-conference honors, while sophomores Dylan Daniels and Zegary Scott III picked up third-team all-conference accolades.
Brotherly Love Recognition
(Story) Thanks to their impressive production this season, sophomore Donyae Baylor-Carroll and freshman Nate Curry were recognized with City of Basketball Love (CoBL) All-Area honors earlier this week. Baylor-Carroll was named to the CoBL All-Area Second Team, while Curry was included on the all-area fifth team. The first-year player also earned CoBL All-Rooke Team status.
Among the Nation's Best
As a team, the Blue & White currently rank third in the nation in total blocks (155) and blocked shots per game (5.7), sixth in the country in total assists (516), and ninth in assists per game (19.1). Dylan Daniels is tops in NCAA Division III in total blocks (125) and blocked shots per contest (4.63), Zegary Scott III ranks sixth in the nation in total assists (183) and eighth in assists per game (6.8), and Donyae Baylor-Carroll is eighth in the country in total 3-point field goals made (102) and 11th in 3-pointers made per contest (3.78).
Weekly Recognition
Thanks to their stellar play throughout the regular season, Penn State Harrisburg players racked up four NEAC Men's Basketball Player of the Week awards this winter:
Donyae Baylor-Carroll (11/18, 2/3, 2/24)
Dylan Daniels (11/25)
Johns Hopkins Quick Glance
No. 6 Johns Hopkins is one of the most talented teams in the country, led by Centennial Conference Player of the Year Conner Delaney. The Blue Jays (24-3) are coming off a monster win over No. 1 Swarthmore in the CC Championship Game over the weekend that saw Delaney, a legitimate national player of the year candidate, bury a buzzer beater to hand the top-ranked Garnet their first and only loss of the season. The victory clinched JHU's fifth Centennial Conference Title and its second in the past three seasons. The Blue Jays are on a roll and have won 15 of their last 16 outings. Delaney is also an All-CC First-Team pick, while sophomore Tom Quarry was a second-team selection.
Yeshiva Quick Glance
No. 13 Yeshiva has had an outstanding 2019-20 campaign to this point, with the team's only defeat this year coming in the season opener back in November. The Maccabees (27-1) won the Skyline Conference Championship on Sunday afternoon and are led by the conference's player of the year in sophomore Ryan Turell. Freshman Ofek Reef picked up the league's rookie of the year honors, while Elliott Steinmetz earned his second-career Skyline Conference Coach of the Year award. Currently riding an incredible 27-game win streak, Yeshiva is making its second NCAA Tournament appearance in as many seasons.
WPI Quick Glance
WPI is receiving votes in the latest D3hoops.com Top 25 Poll after receiving an at-large bid to this year's NCAA Tournament, as the Engineers will take part in the big dance for the 13th time in program history and the 11th time in the last 17 seasons. Despite being upset in overtime by Coast Guard in the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Title Game, WPI put together an impressive 20-win campaign, while senior Jake Wisniewski was pegged the conference's defensive player of the year to go along with freshman John Lowther's rookie of the year recognition.
What's Next?
If the Lions are able to pull off the upset of No. 6 Johns Hopkins on Friday night, they'll take on the winner of the Yeshiva/WPI first-round matchup in NCAA Tournament Second-Round action at Goldfarb Gymnasium on Saturday evening.
Stay Connected