The Lancaster Bible College men's basketball team picked up its fourth straight win on Saturday, as the Chargers defeated Penn St. Harrisburg, 80-66 in front of a packed house at Horst Athletic Center. The victory propels the Chargers to 11-7 overall this season and 8-1 in United East Conference play, while the Lions fall to 8-10 overall and 5-4 in conference action.
 
How it Happened: Both teams took a few possessions to find their offense, as turnovers and empty possessions plagued each in the first two minutes. Lancaster Bible got going with a turnover on the defensive end that finished with a transition layup for junior Grant Sareyka, while the Lions countered with a three-point play by Chris Haynes that gave them an 8-4 lead four minutes into the contest.
 
The Chargers fought back thanks to two 3-pointers from senior Ty Erisman, as his second tied the score at 14-14 with just over 10 minutes remaining in the first half. Both teams continued to search for their offensive footing, but a three-point play from junior Jordan Praylow helped the Chargers to a 19-16 lead with just over seven minutes remaining.
 
As the teams traded baskets, it was another Erisman 3-pointer that extended the Lancaster Bible lead to 24-19 with under five minutes to play. Haynes' solid play for the Lions kept them close as he had a basket and a pair of free throws to close the gap to 26-23 with 3:45 remaining, and hit another 3-pointer with 1:30 remaining to knot the game at 28-28.
 
Senior Adam Stoltzfus restored Lancaster Bible's lead, 30-28, but Haynes hit a tough layup to tie it up again, 30-30, and it remained that way into the half.
 
Neither team got off to a hot offensive start in the second half, but a 3-pointer from Sareyka gave Lancaster Bible a 34-32 advantage just under three minutes into the half. A jumper from Nate Curry tied it, but junior Seth Beers responded with a 3-pointer of his own to give the Chargers a 37-34 advantage. Lancaster Bible's lead grew to 41-34 two minutes later thanks to a fade-away jumper from senior Ethan Beachy, and it stretched to 44-34 after triple from Sareyka.
 
Penn St. Harrisburg wouldn't go away quietly however, as back-to-back 3-pointers from freshman Chase Robinson brought the Lions to within four, 46-42 with 12:24 to play. This time it was Lancaster Bible to respond, as 3-ponters by Sareyka and graduate student Jordan Shewbridge sandwiched around a free throw from junior Andrew Zentner, to give the Chargers a 53-42 lead with under 12 minutes to play.
 
The Lions continued to fight, and a basket by Curry with 8:35 to play cut the Chargers' lead to 56-49. After a pair of free throws from Isaiah Eggleston cut it to a five-point lead, Sareyka drained another 3-pointer to give Lancaster Bible a 59-51 advantage, but a minute later, Curry hit a triple of his own to cut the deficit to 61-56 with 7:12 remaining.
 
Back-to-back baskets from Stoltzfus restored Lancaster Bible's nine-point lead at 65-56, and after a bucket by the Lions, Stoltzfus hit 1-of-2 free throws to make it 66-58 with 4:35 remaining. Curry converted another layup with three minutes to play, but senior Ethan Beachy drained a 3-pointer on Lancaster Bible's next possession, and the Chargers led, 70-62 with 2:44 to play.
 
With under two minutes to play, Beers found Shewbridge streaking up the floor and Shewbridge caught the pass and laid it in to give the Chargers an eight-point advantage and the 2,000^th point of his career. Shewbridge scored the next time down the floor as well, and the Chargers rolled to their fourth straight win.
 
By the Numbers: Lancaster Bible shot 48.4 percent (30-of-62) from the floor, including 42.3 percent (11-of-26) from 3-point range…The Chargers were also 9-of-16 from the free throw line…Penn St. Harrisburg shot 36.7 percent (22-of-60) from the field, including 35 percent (7-of-20) from beyond the arc…The Lions were also 15-of-21 from the free throw line…Sareyka had a game-high 21 points and added five assists, while Stoltzfus had 14 points and 14 boards, as well as four steals…Shewbridge finished with 13 points and four assists, while Beachy had nine points, five assists, and four boards…Beers had eight points and a team-high six assists…Curry finished with a team-high 20 points and 14 boards for the Lions.
 
Information to Know: Lancaster Bible is now 3-33 all-time against Penn St. Harrisburg…The Lions defeated the Chargers, 68-65 on Jan. 17 in Middletown, Pa…The Chargers are 7-1 at Horst Athletic Center this season…With his 13 points, Shewbridge now has 2,002 for his career…Stoltzfus had his ninth double-double of the season on Saturday…Sareyka now has seven 20-point games this season.
 
Up Next: Lancaster Bible is back at home on Tuesday night, as the Chargers host Gallaudet at 7 p.m.