The Lancaster Bible College men's basketball team won its fifth straight game on Tuesday evening, as the Chargers defeated Gallaudet, 85-56 at Horst Athletic Center. The season-high five-game winning streak sends the Chargers to 12-7 overall and 9-1 in United East Conference play, while the Bison dropped to 1-18 overall and 0-10 in conference action.
 
How it Happened: Lancaster Bible came out of the gates strong, as the Chargers scored on each of their first five possessions. Senior Adam Stoltzfus connected for back-to-back buckets, before junior Grant Sareyka hit a 3-pointer and senior Ethan Beachy drained a basket for a 9-0 advantage. Graduate student Jordan Shewbridge followed with a corner 3-pointer to make it 12-0, before Gallaudet got on the board with a 3-pointer four minutes into the game.
 
The Chargers went cold from the floor following their hot start, and Gallaudet took advantage, as the Bison used a 7-2 run towards the middle of the half to cut Lancaster Bible's deficit to 16-10 with 12:45 remaining. After trading baskets, senior Ty Erisman got free and knocked down a 3-pointer to give the Chargers a 21-14 lead with 9:28 remaining.
 
Neither team consistently enjoyed half-court success in the middle of the half, but Lancaster Bible found success in the transition game, as Sareyka caught two long passes for easy layups, the second of which gave the Chargers a 27-17 lead with under five minutes to play in the half. Lancaster Bible found its footing again offensively towards the end of the half, as a dunk by senior Adam Stoltzfus followed by a three-point play by fellow senior Jackson Whitt gave the Chargers a 39-19 edge with under a minute left in the half.
 
Lancaster Bible kept its foot on the pedal to start the second half, as baskets by Beachy and Stoltzfus sandwiched around a 3-pointer from Shewbridge, gave the Chargers a 46-24 advantage 2:40 into the second frame. The teams continued to trade baskets, including a thunderous dunk by Lancaster Bible junior Andrew Zentner off a nice feed from Shewbridge that made it 53-33 with just over 13 minutes remaining.
 
The Chargers' lead grew to 30 with eight minutes remaining, as freshman Luke Rumbaugh drained back-to-back 3-pointers to give Lancaster Bible a 74-44 advantage. Lancaster Bible also got late baskets from graduate student Matt Ilodigwe, sophomore Bijan Hunter II, and freshman Jax Felder, as the Chargers cruised to their fifth straight win.
 
By the Numbers: Lancaster Bible shot 50 percent (33-of-66) from the field, including 32 percent (8-of-25) from 3-point range…The Chargers were 11-of-12 from the free throw line…Gallaudet shot 32.1 percent (17-of-53) from the floor, including 36.8 percent (7-of-19) from beyond the arc…The Bison shot 15-of-21 from the free throw line…Stoltzfus led four players in double figures with 17 points and also added 14 rebounds….Shewbridge added 13 points, while Erisman had 11 points, including three 3-pointers…Zentner finished with 10 points and six boards, while Rumbaugh had six points…Blessed Mbogo had a game-high 19 points to pace the Bison.
 
Information to Know: Lancaster Bible is now 15-9 all-time against the Bison, including two wins against Gallaudet this season…The Chargers defeated the Bison, 83-57 in Washington, D.C. on January 14…Lancaster Bible is now 8-1 at Horst Athletic Center this season…The Chargers outscored the Bison, 44-16 in the paint…Thirteen different players scored for Lancaster Bible…The Chargers had season-high 28 assists, and have had 51 assists over the past two games.
 
Up Next: Lancaster Bible travels to upstate New York this weekend to take on SUNY Morrisville on Friday night at 7 p.m. and Wells on Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m.