The Lancaster Bible College men's basketball season came to an end on Saturday in the North Eastern Athletic Conference Final, but not before the Chargers gave everything they could to the top-seed Penn St. Harrisburg on its home floor. The Chargers led late in regulation before the Nittany Lions tied it at 64-64 and the teams headed to overtime.
 
Penn St. Harrisburg proved to be too much in the extra frame, and defeated the Chargers, 76-69 to earn the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III National Tournament. Lancaster Bible's season ends with a 14-14 overall record, while the Nittany Lions will head to the tournament with a record of 20-7.
 
How it Happened: Lancaster Bible jumped out to a 5-0 lead on five straight points from sophomore Jordan Shewbridge who was unbelievable all game long. Shewbridge's layup 2:37 into the contest gave the Chargers a 5-0 lead, but Penn St. Harrisburg scored the next eight points for an 8-5 advantage 4:08 into the game.
 
Senior Luke Beers tied the game 20 seconds later with a 3-pointer, but the Nittany Lions scored six straight points again, and led 14-8 after a layup from Clinton Asalu with 11:54 to play in the half. Penn St. Harrisburg maintained a small lead for almost four minutes, but Beers drained another 3-pointer with eight minutes to play in the half and knotted the game at 22-22.
 
The teams traded baskets after that, as Adam Stoltzfus, Shewbridge, and Tyler Norris had buckets for the Chargers. Norris' 3-pointer tied the game at 32-32, but Penn St. Harrisburg scored the final six points of the half, and led 38-32 at the break.
 
The Nittany Lions opened up a 10-point lead 1:36 into the half, 44-34, but the Chargers chipped away, and trailed just 48-46 after another triple from Beers. With nine minutes remaining, Penn St. Harrisburg's Pedro Rodriguez hit a 3-pointer and was fouled, and his adjoining free throw made it 55-48 in favor of the Nittany Lions.
 
Lancaster Bible never waned however, and a 3-pointer from Shewbridge, followed by a bucket from Norris, and two free throws from Stoltzfus tied the game at 55-55. Again the teams traded baskets, but two free throws from Shewbridge, followed by an unreal 3-pointer from Shewbridge, gave Lancaster Bible a 62-57 advantage with 2:49 to play.
 
Penn St. Harrisburg hit two free throws less than a minute later, but Shewbridge restored Lancaster Bible's five-point lead at 64-59 with 1:33 remaining. Donyae Baylor-Carrol, who would later be named NEAC Final Four MVP, hit a 3-pointer with 1:11 to go, and Zegary Scott III's layup with 23 seconds to go tied the game at 64-64. The Chargers never got a shot off on their last possession, and the game headed to overtime.
 
The Nittany Lions opened the scoring in overtime, and led 68-65, before two free throws from Britton Beachy brought the Chargers to within one, 68-67 with 1:59 remaining. Lancaster Bible had a chance to take the lead, but couldn't convert, and Baylor-Carrol and Rodriguez scored on Penn St. Harrisburg's next two possessions, and led 72-67 with 45 seconds to play. Beers hit a late jumper with 12 seconds remaining to bring the Chargers to within five, but they would get no closer, and Penn St. Harrisburg was on to the tournament.
 
By the Numbers: Lancaster Bible shot 41.1 percent (23-of-56) from the field, including 11-of-25 from 3-point range…The Chargers were also 12-of-15 from the free throw line…Penn St. Harrisburg show 40.9 percent (27-of-66) from the floor, including 7-of-21 from beyond the arc…The Nittany Lions were a perfect 15-of-15 from the free throw line…Shewbridge finished with a game-high 30 points, as he toppled the 30-point mark for the second time this season…Beers capped his career with 19 points, six rebounds, and a block…Norris had seven points, while Stoltzfus had six points…William Afoakwah had 10 rebounds for the Chargers…Baylor-Carrol had 23 points to lead four players in double figures for the Nittany Lions.
 
The Coach Says: "This is a tough game to swallow, but I thought our guys were committed to the game plan and played with relentless passion and purpose to put us in a position to win," Lancaster Bible Head Coach Jon Mack said. "We just didn't make enough plays on both ends of the floor in the last two minutes of regulation and overtime. I also thought Harrisburg made some really tough plays to force OT, and win the game."
 
On growing from the loss: "I know our returners and program will grow from this experience as we prepare to pursue the 2021 NEAC Championship," Mack said.
 
Thoughts on the season: "I am very proud of the high character of this team and coaching staff," Mack said. "I truly love our guys and thank them for allowing me to travel this journey alongside them. They have impacted my life in many ways this season and I will forever be grateful for this team. Although we fell short of the temporary crown today, we are still on pace to win the eternal crown, and that's the real crown we were created for."
 
News & Notes: Lancaster Bible is now 1-30 all-time against Penn St. Harrisburg…The Chargers lost to the Nittany Lions by 26 points in each of the first two meetings between the two teams this season, and nearly pulled off the upset on Saturday…Lancaster Bible is now 10-5 all-time in the NEAC Playoffs, and the Chargers are 2-4 all-time in the NEAC Final…Shewbridge has 838 total points heading into his junior season…Beers finishes his career with 911 points…Lancaster Bible was just 3-11 in true road games this season, and 5-11 in all games away from Horst Athletic Center…The Chargers nearly kept their streak alive of winning the NEAC every other year, as the Chargers won the conference in 2016 and 2018.