February 16th, 2009

Late Game Victory

MIDDLETOWN, PA - Penn State Harrisburg men´s basketball team make a late game run for the 67-63 win against the visiting Fighting Tigers of SUNY Cobleskill. The Nittany Lions snap their five game losing streak and improve to 8-14 on the season with the Fighting Tigers falling to 7-13 overall.

Eight minutes in the first half the blue and white went 1-for-7 from the field, only scoring three points to the Tigers´ ten. Penn State Harrisburg clawed their way back within two, four times but could not grab the lead. The blue and white finish the half on a 5-0 run to bring them within one, 34-33.

The second half featured seven ties and 11 lead changes. With 2:42 remaining, Tigers´ Andrei Lucas hits a three point to put SUNY Cobleskill up by seven. Freshman Rhett Sheibley (Northern/Dillsburg, PA) drained a three pointer of his own to bring the blue and white within four. With 1:14 to go and the Tigers up by three, 63-60, junior Cole McGuire (Susquenita/Duncannon, PA) hits his third three of the game to tie the ballgame. Then with 20 seconds remaining, freshman Kenton Alston (Steelton-Highspire/Steelton, PA) deflected a SUNY Cobleskill pass to teammate Sheibley. SUNY Cobleskill fouled McGuire quickly for two shots. McGuire would make both free throws, 65-63. The Tigers last position resulted in a McGuire steal and two more free throws to ensure the 67-63 victory.

Penn State Harrisburg was led by McGuire with 19 points. He shot 5-for-9 from the field, 3-for-6 from beyond the arc and 6-for-6 from the charity stripe. Alston had another outstanding defensive game with eight blocks as well as scoring 13 points with three rebounds and four assists. Sophomore Shane Woodman (Donegal/Mt. Joy, PA) chipped in with 10 points, three rebounds, two assists and two steals. Sophomore Cameron Nedd (Charles Herbert Flowers/Largo, MD) helped out with eight points off of 4-of-5 shooting.

SUNY Cobleskill was led by Taiquan Newkirk with 25 points, 11 rebounds and three steals. Lucas finished with 12 points and three rebounds. Kevin Mitchell and Damion Longmore but accumulated seven points each in the Fighting Tigers lost.

The blue and white travel to Delaware Valley College Thursday night. Tip time is set for 7:00 P.M.