LH men’s basketball returns to action, remains unbeaten at home

LOCK HAVEN, PA – Despite a nearly two-week layoff, the Lock Haven University men’s basketball team (8-2, 4-1 PSAC) returned to action and the Bald Eagles looked as if they hadn’t missed a beat as they rolled to a hard-fought 69-64 victory over visiting Gannon University (0-9, 0-5 PSAC) Friday night in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) action.

With the win, Lock Haven improved to 8-2 on the season, the program’s best since a 9-1 start in 1989-90, and the Bald Eagles moved to 4-1 in PSAC play. The 4-1 start versus league opponents helped The Haven remain tied atop the PSAC Eastern Division standings heading into a heavy PSAC East schedule ahead.

The win also helped Lock Haven remain perfect at home on the season as LHU pushed to 4-0 in Thomas Fieldhouse.

Jayy Davis (Cheltenham, Pa./Hatboro-Horsham (Washington Adventist)) led the way for Lock Haven. He matched a game-high in scoring with 18 points. He was 7-of-11 from the field and 4-of-5 from 3-point range. Davis also grabbed six rebounds.

Justice Shoats (Wilkes-Barre, Pa./Holy Redeemer) netted 12 points, Eli Washington (Lancaster, Pa./Hempfield) added 11 points, and Dymir Montague (Philadelphia, Pa./Neumann-Goretti) tallied a nine-point outing.

James Price (Joppa, Md./Archbishop Curley) pulled down nine rebounds and chipped in with five points. Jalen Gorham (York, Pa./MacDuffie School (Saint Michael’s)) added a seven-rebound effort.

The Lock Haven defense was once again strong and finished with seven steals, and four blocks.

The Bald Eagles benefitted from 20 points off the bench which helped balance the strong scoring attack, and Lock Haven netted 15 second-chance points on the way to victory.

The game action marked Lock Haven’s first game since a road loss at Mercyhurst on Dec. 19 and it marked the final game of 2022. That loss at Mercyhurst snapped a five-game win streak for The Haven.

The Haven will return to action and open the new year on Wednesday, Jan. 4 at Shepherd University. Opening tip is set for 7:30 p.m. on Jan. 4 in what will be Lock Haven’s first PSAC Eastern Division clash of the 2022-23 season.

The Bald Eagles will enter the 2023 portion of their 2022-23 schedule with an 8-2 record. Prior to the Dec. 19 loss, Lock Haven was 7-1 and ranked among the top-10 in the region for the first time in over 30 years.