Clutch moments lead LHU Men’s Basketball to thrilling PSAC victory at Edinboro

EDINBORO – In a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) East vs. West showdown that featured 12 ties and nine lead changes, the Lock Haven men’s basketball team made winning plays down the stretch to leave Edinboro with a 71-69 victory on the road on Wednesday night (Dec. 17).

With the victory, The Haven extends its winning streak to three games and improves to 5-5 overall and 2-2 in the PSAC. Edinboro falls to 4-7 overall and 1-4 in conference play.

Isaiah Stewart led the offense for Lock Haven as he finished with 20 points and seven rebounds, while going a perfect 9-of-9 at the charity stripe.

LaQuan Byrd has his best game as a Bald Eagle and came off the bench to score 15 points and grab four rebounds.

Eli Washington added 14 points and three assists, while Kevin Coleman rounded out the Bald Eagles in double figures with 10 points and seven rebounds off the bench.

Edinboro knocked down a game-high seven 3-pointers, but the Bald Eagles went 17-of-18 at the foul line, which proved to be the difference.

Edinboro extended its first-half lead to double figures (44-34) just 30 seconds into the second half and controlled the game for the opening five minutes of the half. However, with just 16 minutes remaining, Lock Haven erupted on a 12-3 run, led by five points from Stewart, to take a 54-52 lead with 11 minutes to go.

The teams traded three ties and four lead changes over the ensuing eight minutes and the game was deadlocked at 60-60 with 3:55 left on the clock.

Stewart connected on a layup out of the under four media timeout to put The Haven back on top, 62-60.

The theme of the night continued as neither team could separate, but back-to-back buckets by Byrd and Washington put the Bald Eagles ahead 68-65 with one-minute remaining in regulation.

Edinboro scored four unanswered to take a 69-68 lead with 13 seconds to go, but Stewart knocked down a pair of free throws to regain Lock Haven’s advantage and the defense took care of the rest to secure the thrilling victory.

After trailing through the opening 13 minutes of the first half, a layup by Byrd put the Bald Eagles on top, 19-18, for the first time in the game.

However, the Fighting Scots made their next five shots from the floor and responded with a 12-4 run over the ensuing three minutes to go back on top, 30-23.

Despite Edinboro knocking down six trifectas in the first half, Lock Haven refused to let the Fighting Scots pull away, and the Bald Eagles trailed 41-34 heading into the break.

The Bald Eagles countered Edinboro’s hot long-range shooting by getting to the free throw line and converting, as they finished a perfect 6-of-6 from the line in the first half. Byrd led the way for The Haven in the first half with 11 points off the bench.

NEXT UP

The Bald Eagles are set to host No. 17 Gannon at Thomas Fieldhouse on Saturday (Dec. 21) at 3 p.m. in a PSAC East vs.West contest.