Total team effort leads LHU Men’s Basketball to 76-67 victory over ESU
LOCK HAVEN– All 10 Bald Eagles that checked in recorded points and the Lock Haven men’s basketball team used a complete team effort to take down Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division power East Stroudsburg, 76-67, on Saturday afternoon (Jan. 11) in front of the home crowd inside Thomas Fieldhouse.
With the victory, the Bald Eagles (7-7, 4-4 PSAC) move just one game out in the win column for second place in the Eastern Division. Dating back to 2023, The Haven has now won three games in a row against PSAC East perennial power ESU.
Currently in second place in the East, the Warriors fall to 11-4 overall and 3-5 in the PSAC.
The key to the game was the Bald Eagles’ poise under pressure, despite facing the daunted full-court ESU press for the full 40 minutes.
The guard trio of Isaiah Stewart, Eli Washington and Idris Ali slowed down the Warriors’ defense by running a calm and collective press break that allowed the Bald Eagles to get good looks at the rim all night long.
Stewart finished with 10 points and five assists, while Washington and Ali added nine and seven points, respectively.
Reigning PSAC East Defensive Player of the Week Kevin Coleman was a monster inside and secured a 14-point, 14-rebound double-double, while anchoring the Bald Eagles’ defense in the paint.
LaQuan Byrd rounded out the Bald Eagles in double figures and finished with 10 points. Gabe Springer added two blocks.
Lock Haven jumped out to a 5-0 lead following the opening tip, before extending its advantage to 14-8 at the 14-minute mark in the first half.
However, ESU responded with a 7-0 run over the ensuing four minutes to go up 15-14.
The runs continued, and Lock Haven used a 17-6 run starting at the 10-minute mark to take its largest lead of the half, 34-23, with under three minutes remaining. Led by eight points off the bench from Byrd, Lock Haven carried a 38-28 lead into the break.
In the second half, Lock Haven maintained a double-digit lead through the opening 15 minutes, but three consecutive ESU steals and fast-break buckets cut the Warriors deficit to six (66-60) for the first time since early in the first half.
The Warriors again cut their deficit to six (70-64) at the 2:18 mark, but that was as close as they could get as Lock Haven continued to make winning plays down the stretch, especially on the defensive end, to close out the conference win.
Evan Morton led the Warriors with 20 points and four assists.
Next up for The Haven:
The Bald Eagles travel to Shepherd on Wednesday (Jan. 15) at 7:30 for a PSAC East contest.
