MIDDLETOWN, Pa. – Penn State Harrisburg's men's basketball team used a strong defensive effort to put the clamps on a talented Muhlenberg squad in a 61-52 non-conference victory at the Capital Union Building on Saturday afternoon, Dec. 13.


Andre Thomas III scored a team-high 11 points, while Kevin Lucas Jr. netted 10 off the bench. Justin Leddo flirted with a double-double with eight points and seven rebounds, as did Jordan Spencer with seven points and nine boards.


After a back-and-forth start to the contest, the Lions (5-5) got going following a Thomas 3-ball, adding triples from Mason Pulliam and Leddo, along with a Maurice Davis layup that made it 18-10 midway through the first half. Lucas converted back-to-back layups two minutes later to make it 24-16 at the 7:13 mark but the Mules (5-4) responded with a 10-2 run to close the half and pull even at the break.


Thomas opened the second with another trifecta and Penn State Harrisburg put together a spurt midway through the half to pull ahead 37-31 thanks to a Spencer 3-pointer and a pair of George free throws with 11:57 to play. After Muhlenberg pulled to within four at the 9:07 mark, Lucas answered back on the ensuing possession with a quick triple before an old-fashioned 3-point play from David Reed IV stretched the lead to 10 with 7:55 left.


The Lions took their largest lead of the day when Leddo buried a 3-ball off a Thomas assist to make it 55-43 with less than five minutes to play. The visitors chipped away in the final minutes to cut the deficit to five with 27 seconds left but Thomas converted four straight free throws down the stretch to put the finishing touches on the win.


NOTABLES
- The Lions' defense held Muhlenberg to 32.7 percent shooting from the field (17-of-52) and just 25 percent shooting from beyond the arc (7-of-28).
- Penn State Harrisburg shot an impressive 42.1 percent from 3-point range (8-of-19).
- Penn State Harrisburg's bench outscored the Mules reserves 28-6.
- The Lions scored 18 points off Muhlenberg turnovers.
- Thomas netted a team-high 11 points.
- Lucas scored a season-high 10 points off the bench.
- Spencer nearly had a double-double with a game-high nine rebounds and seven points.
- Leddo also flirted with a double-double, finishing with eight points and seven boards.
- Dylan Moore chipped in with eight points and three rebounds.
- Reed pulled down eight rebounds and added five points off the bench.


WHO'S NEXT?
The Lions travel to Ohio for the first day of the John Carroll Tournament on Saturday afternoon, Dec. 20.
 
 
STAY CONNECTED
Fans can keep up with Penn State Harrisburg Athletics all season long on Instagram, Facebook, X and YouTube using the handle @pshbgathletics.