Eli Hanna scored a career high 17 points as LHU swept the season series over Shippensburg with an 81-74 victory over the visiting Red Raiders.

LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – Junior standout Billy Arre (Pittsburgh/Thomas Jefferson) had 22 points while junior Kelvin McLean (Newport News, Va./Heritage) and freshman hometown hero Eli Hanna (Lock Haven, Pa./Central Mountain) each chipped in 17 a piece as the Lock Haven University Bald Eagle basketball squad (2-20, 1-7 PSAC West) made it a season sweep over Shippensburg University (6-17, 0-8 {PSAC West) as they sent the Red Raiders home with an 81-74 defeat.

LHU led at the intermission by a 35-32 margin as they only sacrificed the lead to Ship once in the opening frame.

Shippensburg used a 9-3 run to start the second half to get a lead in the early part of the stanza at a 41-38 margin.

Following the quick spurt by the Red Raiders, it was a quick four point jolt from Arre that gave The Haven the lead for good at 42-41.

LHU would use a 12-2 run over the course of the games next seven and a half minutes to put Shippensburg at their biggest deficit of the evening as the Bald Eagles held a solid 11 point lead with just over eight minutes to play.

Ship would chip away at the lead and knock it down to a six point margin twice over the games next three minutes as they closed the gap to a 60-54 margin with 5:07 to play.

Arre, Hanna and A.J. Zimmer (Bethel Park, Pa./Bethel Park) would push the Red Raiders back again, as over the course of the ensuing 87 seconds they would go on an 8-0 run to build The Haven lead to it’s biggest margin of the evening at 14 points.

Shippensburg wasn’t ready to go away yet as they put a full court press on the Bald Eagles which forced a number of turnovers down the stretch which were converted into big points as with 56 ticks remaining the Red Raiders had cut the LHU lead back down to six.

But strong free throw shooting down the stretch would prove to win the day as LHU would hold off the final attack of the evening by Ship and earn their second win of the season by an 81-74 margin.

Arre’s 22 points led the way for LHU as he continues to have a tremendous junior campaign.

With his 22 point performance Arre moved into fourth place on the all-time LHU scoring list with 1548 points. He only needs 35 points to move into sole possession of third place which is currently held by 1990 LHU grad Dean Kriebel with 1582 points.

Arre, an honorable mention choice for the Preseason All-American squad, also led the Bald Eagles on the glass as he hauled in seven boards.

LHU won the rebound battle by a 30-28 margin and shot an electric 50% from the field including an incredible 12-23 for 52% from beyond the arc.

Shippensburg was led by Alex Jones’ 22 points and Brian Oleksiak’s seven rebounds.

LHU also overcame an incredible inside game from Ship which accounted for 40 of their 74 points as they outscored LHU in the paint 40-18 on the evening.

Lock Haven swept the season series with Shippensburg as they also defeated the Red Raiders on the road on January 16.

The Bald Eagle players were exceptionally pleased with the outcome as they earned their second win of the season.

“It’s getting down to the nitty gritty now and we are so excited to get our second win of the season and finally win in front of the home crowd,” said Hanna as he celebrated in the locker room with his team following the win.

LHU last won at home 354 days ago as they defeated Indiana University of Pa (IUP) 66-59 to win their final contest of the 2006-07 season.

Lock Haven is next back in action as they take life on the road as they travel to California, Pa. to take on the Vulcans in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western division action on Saturday, February 16. Tip off is slated for 3 p.m. at Hamer Hall on the campus of California (PA).