The Lancaster Bible College men's basketball team stayed perfect in North Eastern Athletic Conference South Division play on Wednesday night, as the Chargers defeated Penn College, 79-68 at Horst Athletic Center. The Chargers are now 12-7 overall and 9-2 in NEAC play, including a perfect 8-0 in NEAC South Division games. The loss drops the Wildcats to 2-10 overall this season and 1-10 in NEAC action.
 
How it Happened: After Penn College collected the opening basket of the game, Lancaster Bible embarked on a 9-3 run, as Luke Beers capped the scoring run with a 3-pointer. Lancaster Bible extended its lead to 15-7 on a triple from Alex Whitt, and led 22-10 with 9:54 to play in the first half after a 3-pointer from Benny Raymond.
 
After a bucket from the Wildcats, the Chargers went on another big run, scoring 10 straight points, thanks to five more points from Raymond, followed by a basket by Quentin Davis and a 3-pointer from Hunter Gerber. Penn College was able to hang around, as the teams traded baskets late in the first half, and a late layup by the Wildcats (after a thunderous dunk from Davis), cut the Chargers' lead to 40-26 at halftime.
 
Lancaster Bible wasted little time driving the lead back up to 20 points, as back-to-back layups from Davis and Jordan Shewbridge gave Lancaster Bible a 51-31 lead with 14:52 remaining. The lead reached 28 with seven minutes remaining, as Raymond knocked down his seventh 3-pointer of the game, and gave Lancaster Bible a 70-42 advantage.
 
From there however, things got a bit interesting, as Penn College began knocking down shot-after-shot, and the Chargers went cold on their end of the floor. The Wildcats cut their deficit to just 10 with 47 seconds to play, as Carson Garvis converted a layup that made it 78-68. Penn College missed a jumper on its next time down the floor, and turned the ball over the possession after that, and Davis put the game away with 27 seconds to play, as he hit one of two free throws.
 
By the Numbers: Lancaster Bible shot 43.7 percent (31-of-71) from the floor, including 11-of-36 from 3-point range…The Chargers shot just 6-of-14 from the free throw line however, as the struggles from the charity stripe continue for Lancaster Bible…Penn College shot 37.7 percent (23-of-61) from the field, and 8-of-23 from beyond the arc…Raymond led the Chargers with 23 points, as he was 8-of-13 from the field, including 7-of-11 from 3-point range…Davis added 18 points and 12 rebounds, while Beers chipped in with nine points and six assists…Alex Whitt added six points and five boards, while Brett Bechler had two points, three rebounds and two assists…Gerber finished with five points and three rebounds…Elijah Vazquez had a game-high 28 points for the Wildcats.
 
The Coach Says: "When Benny shoots like he did tonight, he not only helps himself, he gives our entire team a spark," Lancaster Bible Head Coach Andrew Wingreen said. "When he and our other shooters get going, and we keep the game under our control, it is pretty special."
 
On the Play of Davis: "We want to play inside-out, so the more Quentin establishes himself inside, the more good looks we can get outside for our shooters," Wingreen said. "I thought he played a strong game tonight."
 
On Saturday's Game with Morrisville State: "They are a really good team, the only undefeated team left in the NEAC, and I think we have a good game plan for them, but it will be up to all of us to execute that plan, and play to a level that brings us success," Wingreen said.
 
Information Hodge Podge: Lancaster Bible is now 12-0 all-time against Penn College…The Chargers defeated the Wildcats, 68-52 earlier this season in Williamsport, Pa…Raymond's seven 3-pointers marked the second straight game the Chargers have had a player hit seven 3-pointers, as Jordan Shewbridge knocked down seven triples last Saturday at Cazenovia…The program record is eight, shared by Matt Lynsky (2002), Albert Suniga (2014), and Naheer Mirza (2015)…The Chargers are now 7-2 at Horst Athletic Center this season…Lancaster Bible has double-digit 3-pointers in nine of 19 games this season, including three straight and five of its past six.
 
Up Next: Lancaster Bible hosts Morrisville State on Saturday at 3 p.m., as the game is a rematch of the past three NEAC Finals.