The Lancaster Bible College men's basketball team's losing streak reached four games on Saturday afternoon in upstate New York, as the Chargers opened North Eastern Athletic Conference play with an 86-78 loss to Morrisville State. Lancaster Bible is now 1-6 overall this season, and 0-1 in conference play, while the Mustangs improved to 3-4 overall and 1-0 in NEAC action.
 
How it Happened: Morrisville State opened a 12-5 lead 4:31 into the contest, as Kevin Dennis converted a layup, and capped the run where he had nine of the 12 points. The Mustangs eventually led 21-12, but back-to-back buckets from William Afoakwah and Jackson Henri around a made basket from Morrisvile State, brought the Chargers back to within six, 23-17 with 11:46 remaining in the opening half.
 
The offense slowed for each team as the half went on, but Jordan Shewbridge's jumper with 5:39 to play cut the Chargers' deficit to five, 32-27. Adam Stoltzfus made it a two-point game, 39-37, with a layup with 35 seconds remaining, but Ismael Chrisholm capped his excellent first half with a bucket that made it 41-37 in favor of the Mustangs after 20 minutes of play.
 
Morrisville State opened the second half on a 13-4 run over the first four minutes to open a 54-41 lead, but Lancaster Bible fought back with a 10-2 run, as Tyler Norris starred, and Henri's free throws made it five-point deficit at 56-51 with 13:03 left.
 
The Chargers kept coming, and Shewbridge's 3-pointer with 9:11 to play made it 66-65 in favor of Lancaster Bible. The teams exchanged points over the next few minutes, and two more free throws from Henri made it 74-70 Lancaster Bible. After Morrisville State took a 75-74 advantage thanks to five straight free throws, Shewbridge drained another 3-pointer with 3:39 remaining, and Lancaster Bible grabbed a 77-75 lead.
 
The reigning NEAC Champions took over from there however, as Dennis' layup with 2:23 to play gave him 31 points on the day, and his team an 81-77 lead. Tyrin Miller converted a layup the next time down the floor for the Mustangs, and the home team knocked down more layups down the stretch to ice the game.
 
Statistically Speaking: Lancaster Bible shot 38.2 percent (26-of-68) from the floor, including 36.7 percent (11-of-30) from 3-point range…Morrisville State shot 50 percent (27-of-54) from the field, and 34.6 percent (9-of-26 ) from beyond the arc…The Chargers held a 33-29 advantage in rebounds, including an 11-6 edge on the offensive glass…Lancaster Bible also held a 14-0 advantage in fastbreak points…Shewbridge had a career-high 26 points on Saturday, as he was 9-of-18 from the floor, and 6-of-13 from 3-point range…Norris had 17 points and seven boards, while Henri had 12 points and four rebounds…Luke Beers was the fourth player in double figures with 10 points, and also added three rebounds and three assists…Dennis finished with 33 points on 11-of-15 shooting, and was also 11-of-14 from the free throw line…Dennis, Chisholm, and Miller combined for 68 of the team's 86 points.
 
News & Notes: Lancaster Bible is now 6-7 all-time against Morrisville State…The Chargers defeated the Mustangs, 89-77 last season in Lancaster, handing Morrisville State its only conference loss of the season…Lancaster Bible is now 0-4 on the road this season and 1-4 in all games away from Horst Athletic Center…Lancaster Bible has given up 85 or more points in four of seven games this season…Shewbridge's previous career high came earlier this season in a loss to York (Pa.), as he dropped 23 points against the Spartans on Nov. 20.
 
Up Next: Saturday's contest was the final game of 2019 for the Chargers who return to the court on January 2, 2020 when they host Juniata at 7 p.m.