MIDDLETOWN, Pa. – Penn State Harrisburg's men's basketball team was edged 86-78 at the Capital Union Building in the team's season opener by a Mount Union squad receiving votes in the D3hoops.com Top 25 Poll on Saturday night, Nov. 8.


Justin Leddo had a big night, netting a career-high 23 points. Andre Thomas III had an impressive collegiate debut, finishing with 12 points, five assists and five rebounds. Mason Pulliam and Antwone George each added seven points off the bench.


After trailing by 11 at the break, the Lions (0-1) put together a 14-5 run sparked by a Leddo 3-ball on the team's first second-half possession and capped by a triple from Antwone George that cut the deficit to 47-45 with 17:01 left to play. The Purple Raiders (1-0) answered with timely trifectas but Thomas converted back-to-back driving layups to keep the home team within seven at the 14:31 mark.


Mount Union eventually stretched the advantage to 13 thanks to a Jack Dunbar 3-pointer with 6:25 remaining but Penn State Harrisburg made a late push in the final three minutes, with layups from Leddo and Pulliam, along with free throws from Chris Henderson Jr., cutting the deficit to 80-75 with 71 seconds left.


The visitors used another triple in the final minute to create enough breathing room to keep the Lions at bay, despite a pair of Thomas free throws with 19 seconds remaining.


NOTABLES
- Mount Union was 8-of-25 from 3-point range. The Lions went 4-of-20 from distance.
- The teams combined to shoot 70 free throws on the night.
- Penn State Harrisburg's bench outscored the Mount Union reserves 29-15.
- The Lions scored 18 points off Purple Raider turnovers.
- Leddo scored a career-high 23 points on 8-of-13 shooting. He also grabbed five boards.
- Thomas tallied 12 points, five assists and five rebounds in his first college outing.
- Pulliam and George added seven points apiece off the bench.


WHO'S NEXT?
The Lions wrap up the Penn State Harrisburg Tip-Off Classic when they host No. 23 Montclair State at 3 p.m. on Sunday afternoon.


STAY CONNECTED
Fans can keep up with Penn State Harrisburg Athletics all season long on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube using the handle @pshbgathletics.