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CALIFORNIA, Pa. –
Defense was the name of the game
tonight, as the Lock Haven University men’s basketball
team (4-23, 2-10 PSAC West) took California University
(14-13, 4-8 PSAC West) to the limit before falling in
overtime, 55-51. The Bald Eagle three-headed monster of
seniors
Joe Walker
(Lock Haven, Pa./Central Mountain),
Eddie
Christiano (Coal Township, Pa./Lourdes Regional)
and
Quentin Terry
(York, Pa./Central York)
combined for 44 of the team’s 51 points.
The Bald Eagles nearly
missed the chance at overtime. Down three with four
minutes left, Walker made three of four free throws down
the stretch to tie the game at 46 with 51 seconds left in
regulation.
After consecutive
turnovers gave the Vulcans the ball with 16 seconds left,
Cal U’s Boris Mesanger was fouled with four ticks on the
clock, forcing a one-on-one. Lady luck was smiling on the
Bald Eagles, as Mesanger missed the front end to force
overtime.
In overtime, all but
two of the 14 points came from the charity stripe. LHU
jumped out to a quick three-point lead on three
free-throws by Terry. Mesanger would answer with four
free-throws of his own to give the Vulcans a one-point
lead.
An LHU turnover and a
Cal U layup posed a three-point deficit for the Bald
Eagles with 21 seconds left. A failed LHU three-point try
caromed out to Mesanger, who was wrapped up for the foul
at 5 seconds left. Mesanger would make one of two to put
the game out of reach.
Terry led the way with
17 points for LHU. Walker posted 15 points and a game-high
13 rebounds for his seventh
double-double of the season. Christiano chipped in with 12
points from his guard spot.
This was the
second-consecutive loss in overtime for the Bald Eagles.
Walker, Christiano, Terry and the rest of
the Bald Eagles wrapped up a season that saw four
victories, all of which coming at home, including upending
then No. 21 Edinboro University. |
