MIDDLETOWN, Pa. - Penn State Harrisburg's men's basketball team withstood a first-half barrage from Keystone, matched the firepower after halftime and converted in crunch time en route to an 85-79 conference victory over its United East foe at the Capital Union Building on Wednesday night, Jan. 22.
The well-balanced attack saw four players reach double figures, led by Chris Henderson's game-high 21 points. Lance Douglas finished with 20 points, Isaiah Eggleston added 13 and Mason Pulliam netted 11 off the bench. Henderson recorded a double-double with a game-best 12 rebounds, while Jordan Spencer also grabbed a dozen boards.
Penn State Harrisburg's steadiness outlasted Keystone's volatility, as the Giants (8-8, 6-3 United East) were unable to maintain their torrid first-half effort. After the visitors shot a blistering 60.7 percent from the floor and 45.5 percent from beyond the arc in the first half, the Lions (11-7, 8-2 United East) held Keystone to just 32.5 percent shooting from the field and 26.3 percent shooting from distance after the break.
Trailing 40-38 at halftime, Penn State Harrisburg finally pulled even thanks to an Eggleston layup off a Henderson find before Pulliam connected on a 3-ball to put the home team ahead 48-47 with 16:08 remaining. The Lions used a 7-0 spurt capped by a Dylan Moore fastbreak layup to go up 56-50 a the 12:53 mark and eventually led by as many as 10 points following a Douglas triple with 6:14 left to play but the Giants closed the gap to 74-72 with 1:18 remaining.
Then, with just under a minute left, a driving Henderson kicked out a pass to a wide-open Kevin Lucas Jr. at the elbow beyond the arc and the sharpshooter buried a massive 3-ball to make it 77-72 with 59 seconds to play. Spencer and Douglas combined for eight free throws in the final 30 seconds to hold off Keystone and secure the hard-fought victory.
The Giants led by as many as six points midway through the first but Penn State Harrisburg closed out the half with buckets from Pulliam, Lucas, Henderson and Eggleston to pull to within two at the break.
NOTABLES
- The Lions dominated on the glass and finished with a 52-36 edge in rebounds.
- Penn State Harrisburg shot 81 percent (17-of-21) from the free throw line.
- The Penn State Harrisburg bench outscored the Keystone reserves 25-8.
- The Lions racked up 27 second chance points.
- Henderson's 21-point, 12-rebound double-double was the first of his young career.
- Douglas went 9-of-9 from the charity stripe en route to 20 points and six rebounds.
- Eggleston finished with 13 points and five rebounds.
- Pulliam was strong off the bench, adding 11 points and three assists.
- Spencer pulled down a game-high 12 rebounds to go along with six assists.
- Lucas chipped in with six points and a game-high five assists off the bench.
WHO'S NEXT?
The Lions continue conference play when they travel to United East foe Penn State Abington on Saturday afternoon.
STAY CONNECTED
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