LH men’s basketball falls in road conference clash with Mansfield
MANSFIELD, PA – The Lock Haven University men’s basketball team (10-3, 6-2 PSAC) fell to Mansfield University (3-9, 2-6 PSAC), 76-64, in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division action on Wednesday night.
As is almost always the case between the two local rivals, the sides were quickly entrenched in a tight back and forth game. The Bald Eagles laid claim to the largest lead of the first half at 10-2, but it did not last long. The opening 20 minutes featured five lead changes, and ended with the Mounties grabbing a slender 30-25 lead going into the break.
Defenses featured heavily in the opening half as both teams held their opponents to under 40 percent from the field.
The Mounties started the second half hot and fired off an 11-0 run to push ahead of LHU 41-25, and they never looked back. The Haven closed the gap to single digits just two more times over the final 20 minutes as Mansfield kept the Bald Eagle offense at bay.
Mansfield was able to stave off the LHU attack in the final minutes and secure the PSAC East victory, 76-64, snapping a three-game Bald Eagle winning streak.
Jayy Davis (Cheltenham, Pa./Hatboro-Horsham (Washington Adventist)) paced a trio of Bald Eagles in double figures with a team-best 16 points. He notched another team-high and snatched six rebounds.
Justice Shoats (Wilkes-Barre, Pa./Holy Redeemer) posted 16 points on the night while Dymir Montague (Philadelphia, Pa./Neumann-Goretti) rounded out the Bald Eagles in double figures with 14. Shoats tallied a perfect 4-4 from the charity stripe, and Montague hauled in five rebounds.
Defensively, Eli Washington (Lancaster, Pa./Hempfield) proved a nuisance to the Mountie offense totaling a career-best six steals. The mark is the most for any Lock Haven player since Amir Hinton grabbed seven against Pitt-Johnstown in the 2016-17 season. Washington also chipped in nine points
The Mounties carried a sizable advantage in rebounding and a strong defensive effort held The Haven to a 29.2 field goal percentage.
The Bald Eagles hit the road again on Saturday (Jan. 14) for a conference clash with Kutztown. That game is set for a 3 p.m. kickoff.
