The Lancaster Bible College Men's Basketball team hosted the Lions of Penn St. Harrisburg on Wednesday, February 14 for their regular season finale and celebration of Senior Night. After a back-and-forth first half, the Chargers' defensive pressure fueled a 41-27 advantage, giving the Chargers a 71-65 win. The Chargers finish the 2023-24 season 16-9 overall and 10-2 in the United East Conference while the Lions move to 21-4 overall and 11-1 in conference.

The Chargers honored five seniors before the game: #0 Seth Beers, #3 Grant Sareyka, #4 Isaiah Mitchell, #5 Jordan Praylow, and #15 Ty Erisman.

How It Happened: After a few back-and-forth plays, the Lions were first to get on the board with a layup at just under two minutes into the game. Freshman Connor Storr answered with a three-point field goal to make it 3-2. The seasoned squads continued to trade baskets and key defensive possessions until the Lions managed to pull together an 8-0 run after two three-pointers to bring the Chargers' deficit to 10 points with less than eight minutes left in the first half.

A sizable lead for the home team, the Chargers looked for answers to chip away getting within five points off a jumper from Storr, but the Lions responded swiftly, heading to halftime with a 38-30 lead.

Two free throws in the beginning minutes of the second half gave the Lions their largest lead yet, 43-32. In the next 7:53 the Chargers tightened the defensive pressure and got out in transition to tie the game 49-49 after back-to-back three pointers from seniors Ty Erisman and Seth Beers. The Lions took the lead again, this time by five points before the Chargers tied the game again at 54-54. This time, the Chargers took a four-point lead off layups from Storr and sophomore Luke Rumbaugh. A steal and three-pointer from Storr at 2:10 marked one of the biggest shots of the night, making it a two-possession game for the Chargers. Beers and senior Isaiah Mitchell knocked down clutch free throws to ice the game and give the Chargers their 10^th conference win, 71-65.

By the Numbers: The Chargers shot 40-percent from the floor, 39-percent from the three, and 70-percent from the free throw line… the Lions shot 44-percent from the field, 30-percent from three, and 72-percent from the free throw line… the Chargers forced 20 turnovers scoring 30 points off those turnovers… the Lions won the second chance points battle 13-8… Storr had a game-high 19 points going 3-5 from three… Beers chipped in 16 points, five assists, and a perfect 7-7 from the line… Rumbaugh had 15 points and four rebounds… Lance Douglas finished with 15 points and Nate Curry had 13 points for the Lions.

Up Next: The Chargers enter the United East Conference Playoffs as the number-two seed and will play the winner of Saturday's contest between three-seed St. Mary's (Md.) and six-seed Gallaudet on Monday, February 19 at the Horst Athletic Center.