Renninger a Key in Crucial LHU Win
LOCK HAVEN – Tarojae Brake (Coatesville, Pa./Octorara) scored a career-high 31 points including all 14 of the Bald Eagles points in the final four minutes of action and Cole Renninger (Lock Haven, Pa./Central Mountain) sealed the win with a block at the buzzer, as the Lock Haven University men’s basketball team (12-12, 8-12 PSAC) overcame an 11-point deficit on the way to a crucial 86-85 win over West Chester (12-13, 10-10 PSAC).
The Saturday win helps keep Lock Haven’s Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) playoff hopes alive.
On a day where LHU honored its two seniors the before game, it was two freshmen who shined brightest. Brake and Amir Hinton (Philadelphia/Abington) combined for 60 of Lock Haven’s 86 points.
Brake netted 31 after shooting 7 of 10 from the floor, 3 of 4 from 3-point range and 14 of 17 from the free-throw stripes. Brake also had seven rebounds.
Hinton finished with 29 points and seven rebounds.
The seniors certainly made their mark as well on their night. Renninger flirted with another triple-double much to the delight of his hometown fans. The senior scored six points, dished out seven assists and grabbed 10 rebounds.
Renninger also had two blocks including one as time expired, which sealed the Bald Eagles one-point victory.
Senior Craig Slade (Philadelphia/Constitution) also played well and netted six points to go along with six rebounds.
Ra’eese Hunt (Upper Marlboro, Pa./Riverdale Baptist) added nine points and Jihad Barnes (Philadelphia/Philadelphia Electric Charter) grabbed eight rebounds.
With 4:02 left in the game, West Chester led 83-72, but the Bald Eagles went on a run – a 14-0 run – which saw Brake score all 14 of Lock Haven’s points during the stretch.
LHU started the game on 10-0 run the Bald Eagles defense kept West Chester off the scoreboard for the first four minutes of the contest.
The Golden Rams didn’t fold and the remainder of the first half proved to be 10-plus minutes of mini-runs by both teams. Lock Haven and WCU went into the locker rooms at halftime, tied at 44-44.
Much like the first half, the second half proved to be a thriller.
The Bald Eagles will return to the court on Wednesday, Feb. 22 at 7:30 when they host local-rival Mansfield in a game that can’t get any bigger. After Saturday’s win, Lock Haven sits sixth in the PSAC East standings with an 8-12 record. Mansfield is 7-13.
