Billy Arre's 28 points and 15 rebounds led LHU as the Bald Eagles picked up their first win of the season with a 81-78 overtime victory at Shippensburg.

SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – With three players in double figures on the evening, Lock Haven University’s men’s basketball squad (1-14, 1-0 PSAC West) opened up Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference West division action with a thrilling 81-78 overtime victory over Shippensburg University at Heiges Field House (6-10, 0-1 PSAC West).

LHU’s victory snapped a 14 game losing streak and put the Bald Eagles a top the early-season conference standings.

It was Shippensburg jumping out to the early lead over The Haven as they had an 8-4 advantage just over two and a half minutes into the contest.

But it would soon be LHU taking over as an 11-2 run over the next three plus minutes would give the Bald Eagles a solid 15-10 lead.

LHU’s 11-2 run saw five players earn their spot on the scorebook as LHU took advantage of three Red Raider turnovers.

Both teams battled hard, as the game became tied three times over the next three and a half minutes until Denny Mortimer (Silver Spring, Md./Mansfield University) knocked in a layup with eight and change to play in the first half to give The Haven the lead at 25-23.

Lock Haven would control the rest of the first half as they would go on a 13-5 run to end the half as they had a sizeable 38-28 at the intermission.

LHU would maintain that lead until with 13:01 to go an Alex Jones layup would find the bottom of the cup to give Ship the lead back at 48-47.

The game would then go back and forth until with 8:02 to play a Kelvin McLean (Newport News, Va./Heritage) jumper would find the mark and give The Haven the lead at a 56-54 margin.

LHU would hold the lead until a free throw from the hands of Dane Lauber would go in to knot the game up at 68 a piece with just under two minutes to play.

Following a series of missed shots by both teams, LHU had one more chance in regulation to get the win but McLean’s shot couldn’t find the net, pushing the game into an extra session.

David Blackwell (Teaneck, N.J./Teaneck) would put LHU on top early in the overtime period as he would find the bottom of the cup with a three pointer to give The Haven a 71-68 advantage.

LHU would never lose the lead, which once climbed to seven points during the frame, as they outscored Ship 13-10 in the overtime session to travel home with an 81-78 victory.

LHU was led on the evening by an electrifying performance from junior forward Billy Arre (Pittsburgh/Thomas Jefferson) who knocked in a double-double as he scored 28 points and hauled in 15 boards.

Arre also got considerable help as three others who scored in double digits on the evening.

Mortimer knocked in 24 points and also pulled down nine rebounds, McLean pitched in his first career double-double as he scored 15 points and grabbed ten boards and David Blackwell (Teaneck, N.J./Teaneck) also knocked down ten points in the win.

On the glass LHU was led by Arre’s season and game high 15 rebounds as they dominated Ship to win the rebound battle 47-33.

LHU will look to keep up their winning ways as they host Slippery Rock University at home on Saturday, January 19, 2008 as both schools play part in a men’s/women’s doubleheader. Tip off for the men’s contest is scheduled for 3 p.m. at Thomas Fieldhouse.