MIDDLETOWN, Pa. – For the second time in as many outings, Penn State Harrisburg's men's basketball team overcame a double-digit deficit to secure victory as the Lions outlasted Marymount (Va.) 81-76 in overtime on day one of the Penn State Harrisburg Tip-Off Classic presented by Comfort Inn & Suites Harrisburg Airport – Hershey South at the Capital Union Building on Saturday evening, Nov. 11.
Nate Curry recorded his first double-double of the season, finishing with a game-high 20 points and 13 rebounds, while Alex Leiba posted a double-double of his own with 14 points and a dozen boards. Donyae Baylor-Carroll added a dozen points and Lance Douglas was the fourth Penn State Harrisburg to reach double figures with 10 points.
After leading by as many as 12 points midway through the second half, the Saints (0-2) held an 56-48 advantage with 6:33 remaining following a Marcus Beckett layup. Chase Robison answered with a much-needed 3-ball next time down the floor before Leiba converted a layup to cut the deficit to three with 5:17 left to play.
The visitors pushed the lead back to six with less than three minutes remaining but Curry came away with a steal before knocking down a pair of free throws on the other end. Marymount got a layup with 1:39 left to stretch the advantage to 65-59 but Isaiah Milien banked home a jumper from beyond the arc to cut the deficit in half at the 1:18 mark.
Baylor-Carroll thwarted the Saints' ensuing possession by forcing a steal and finishing a layup in transition off a Curry find to pull the Lions to within one with 1:04 left. Douglas kept the defensive pressure going and picked Beckett's pocket in the backcourt, leading to a pair of Curry free throws that put the Lions ahead for the first time all night with 36 ticks remaining.
Wyatt Hockenberry went 1-for-2 from the foul line with 21 seconds left to force an overtime period in which Penn State Harrisburg never trailed. Baylor-Carroll opened the scoring in the extra session with a pair of free throws before Malachi Thomas' strong play continued with a layup the next time down the floor. After a Marymount layup, Curry responded with one of his own off a pretty find from Baylor-Carroll.
The visitors overcame a five-point deficit to draw even at 74-74 but Douglas calmly hit the biggest shot of the night, a 3-ball from the right side, on the Lions' next trip down the floor to make it 77-74 with 43 seconds remaining. After a couple of defensive stops, Baylor-Carroll closed it out with four straight free throws to seal the comeback victory.
NOTABLES
- Penn State Harrisburg led for just 15 seconds during regulation.
- The Lions won the rebounding battle 46-35.
- Penn State Harrisburg shot 91.3 percent (21-of-23) from the charity stripe.
- The Lions scored 38 points in the paint compared to just 20 for Marymount.
- The Penn State Harrisburg bench outscored the Saints reserves 20-to-18.
- Curry recorded a double-double with a game-high 20 points and 13 rebounds. He shot 50 percent from the floor and 7-of-7 from the free throw line.
- Leiba's double-double was his first of the young season. He finished with 13 points and 12 boards on 6-of-9 shooting from the field.
- Baylor-Carroll grinded to 12 points to go along with a game-high six assists and five steals.
- Douglas netted 10 points and pulled down five boards.
- Thomas provided a major spark off the bench, finishing with eight points and a steal.
- Milien added five points, four assists, and a pair of rebounds in a reserve role.
WHO'S NEXT?
The Lions face St. John Fisher in the final game of the Penn State Harrisburg Tip-Off Classic presented by Comfort Inn & Suites Harrisburg Airport - Hershey South on Sunday afternoon. Tip is set for 3 p.m. at the Capital Union Building.
STAY CONNECTED
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