LA PLUME, Pa. - Penn State Harrisburg's men's basketball team couldn't make a second-half lead hold up in a narrow 74-73 setback to United East foe Keystone in the conference opener on Tuesday night, Nov. 26.
Isaiah Eggleston led the way, netting a season-high 22 points. Jordan Spencer recorded a double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds, while Isaiah Milien connected on four 3-pointers to score 12 points. Mason Pulliam was the fourth player to reach double figures with 11 points off the bench.
The Lions (2-4, 0-1 United East) led by as many as a dozen points in the opening half following a Lance Douglas layup in transition off a Dylan Moore steal and assist at the 4:58 mark before taking an 11-point advantage into the break.
Penn State Harrisburg took its largest lead of the night when Milien knocked down a 3-ball to make it 44-30 with 18:05 left to play but the Giants (3-3, 1-0 United East) turned the game around with an ensuing 25-6 run over the next eight and a half minutes that saw the home team pull ahead for the first time.
After the Lions fell behind by six, Pulliam mounted a one-man comeback that saw him hit a midrange jumper followed by back-to-back triples to pull his team even with 5:15 remaining. Spencer followed it up with a go-ahead layup the next time down the floor but Keystone answered with seven straight points. The visitors cut the deficit to a single possession in the final minute but couldn't come up with the defensive stop needed to mount a final comeback in the closing seconds.
NOTABLES
- Keystone shot 50 percent from the floor and 42.9 percent from beyond the arc.
- The Lions shot just 39.7 percent from the field and 27.3 percent from 3-point range.
- The Giants scored 17 fast break points, compared to just three for Penn State Harrisburg.
- Eggleston netted a game-high 22 points and grabbed five rebounds.
- Spencer recorded a 13-point, 11-rebound double-double.
- Milien knocked down four 3-pointers to finish with 12 points.
- Pulliam provided the spark off the bench, tallying 11 points and a pair of assists.
- Douglas racked up eight rebounds and a game-high eight assists off the bench.
- Larry Onabanwo dished out five assists.
WHO'S NEXT?
The Lions host Alvernia for non-conference action at the Capital Union Building on Sunday afternoon.
STAY CONNECTED
Fans can keep up with Penn State Harrisburg Athletics all season long on Instagram, Facebook, X, and Youtube using the handle @pshbgathletics.
