Box Score The Lancaster Bible College men's basketball team's run through the North Eastern Athletic Conference playoffs ended in the NEAC Final on Sunday as the Chargers lost to Morrisville State, 70-63 at Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C. Lancaster Bible finishes its season with a record of 14-14, but did make the program's fourth straight NEAC Final. 

This year's NEAC Final was a rematch of last year's final, which the Chargers won, 97-71, and the teams also met in the 2014 NEAC Final which the Mustangs won, 73-65 in Lancaster, Pa. Morrisville State or Lancaster Bible has now won five of the last six NEAC Championships.

How it Happened: The teams traded baskets in the opening minutes, but Lancaster Bible went cold from the field and didn't score for over five minutes. After trailing 6-5 early in the contest, the Chargers faced a 15-5 deficit following the scoring drought. Morrisville State held its lead, but the Chargers finally began to find an offensive groove and cut their deficit to just four, 21-17, after a 3-pointer from sophomore Austin Brown with 8:01 remaining in the first half.

The Mustangs restored their nine-point lead just minutes later, but again it was Lancaster Bible who wouldn't go away, a common theme of the game, and after freshman Luke Beers knocked down a jumper with 2:35 left, the Chargers trailed just 32-29. Trent Ward drained a 3-pointer for Morrisville State following the bucket by Beers, but junior Herbie Brown scored with 17 seconds left in the half to make it a 35-31 game heading into halftime.

The teams continued to go back-and-forth in the second half and Lancaster Bible freshman Brett Cataudella made two free throws to cut the Chargers' deficit to two, 43-41 with 12:28 remaining. After the Chargers defense hung tough on two straight possessions, Beers sunk a 3-pointer to give Lancaster Bible its first lead of the game at 44-43 with 11:27 to play.

Unfortunately for the Chargers, another scoring drought ensued and Lancaster Bible didn't score for over four minutes. Sophomore Quentin Davis finally broke the drought, but the Mustangs had retaken the lead and Davis' bucket cut the Chargers' deficit to five, 51-46, with 7:18 left. Morrisville State extended its lead to double digits on three separate occasions, but once again, Lancaster Bible didn't quit and made one more run.

Down 66-55 with 1:57 to play, Lancaster Bible went on an 8-1 run and trailed just 67-63 after three straight free throws from junior Bill Livezey. The Chargers then stole the in-bounds pass, but turned it over before getting a shot off. The Mustangs' Kevin Dennis, who was later named NEAC Final Four MVP, converted a layup with 37 seconds remaining and Lancaster Bible's shots on its next two possessions clanked off the rim and ended any chance of a comeback.

By the Numbers: Lancaster Bible shot 30.3 percent (20-of-66) from the field and 16-of-24 from the free throw line...Morrisville State shot 48.1 percent (26-of-54) from the floor and 11-of-16 from the free throw line...Herbie Brown led the Chargers with 24 points, nine rebounds and five assists, while Livezey had 11 points and 11 boards...Austin Brown added nine points, while Cataudella had six points and three rebounds...Beers and Davis each had five points, while Davis also added 12 rebounds...Dennis, the NEAC Rookie of the Year, led the Mustangs with 23 points and 19 rebounds.

The Coach Says: "This is obviously a tough one to lose, especially when you're so close at the end," Lancaster Bible Head Coach Zach Filzen said. "There is definitely pain and the guys are feeling it right now, but overall I am very thankful for them and their commitment to this program. I think we got better as the year went on and I am very thankful to our seniors and what they have contributed to the program. For those who are returning, we will learn from this season, get better over the next few months and build on the good things we did this season."

Information Hodge Podge: Lancaster Bible is now 4-6 all-time against Morrisville State...The Chargers also lost to the Mustangs on Jan. 20, 86-73 in Lancaster, Pa...This was the third meeting between the two teams in the NEAC Final (2014, 2016) and the Chargers are now 1-2...Morrisville State now has four NEAC titles (2012, 2013, 2014, 2017) and has five appearances in the NEAC Final...Lancaster Bible is tied with Wells next on the list with four NEAC Final appearances...Sunday's game marked the first time since the 2004-05 season that the NEAC Final Four host did not play in the NEAC Final...Lancaster Bible finished 7-10 away from Horst Athletic Center this season...Herbie Brown's 15.9 points per game this season is the second-highest mark over the past eight seasons...Sunday marked the final game in the careers of Javon Cole, Jared Steiner and Austin Feaster.