The #3-seed Lancaster Bible College Men's Basketball team played their first game at the NCCAA Division I National Championship in Point Lookout, Mo. on Wednesday morning against #6-seed Clinton College, earning an 89-87 victory to advance to the National Semifinals as Camden Hurst (Jr.) scored the game-winning layup with seven seconds remaining. The Chargers improve to 21-8 overall and advance in the winner's bracket while the Golden Bears fall to 17-8 overall and fall to the loser's bracket where they will take on #2-seed Hannibal-LaGrange tomorrow morning at 8:30 a.m. Central time.
 
How it Happened:
Connor Storr (Jr.) got the Chargers started as he drained a 3-pointer on the opening possession, then after two from Clinton, Nile Austin (Sr.) hit a three and Storr had a layup later on for an 8-2 LBC run to open the game. Landon Zeiset (Fr.) got a layup to go for the Chargers' largest lead of the half at eight points, then the Golden Bears went on a 7-0 run to cut the lead to just one point before Trey Grube (Jr.) knocked down his first three of the game to end the run. Passing the 12-minute mark, Austin drained a pair of threes on back-to-back trips to get the lead back to six, but the Golden Bears took off from there as they seized their first lead of the game with nine straight points at 28-25. Clinton led by as many as five with under six minutes to play then Grube went on a 9-0 run by himself as he hit three straight 3-pointers to swing LBC back in front 39-34. The Chargers held onto the lead for the rest of the first half as Zeiset put them up eight on a pair of free throws, taking a 48-40 lead into the halftime break.
 
The Bears opened up the second half on a 6-0 run to close the lead to two before a turnover led to a transition dunk by Storr to keep LBC up five. Camden Hurst then hit a three and Jacob Lewis (Fr.) got a jumper to go as the lead got back to eight points, then an and-one drive by Lewis put LBC up nine points at 61-52, their largest lead of the game. Clinton began to work the deficit back over the next few minutes, eventually tying the game at 68-all on a made three with under nine minutes to play. The Golden Bears completed an 8-0 run as they swung ahead by five points, holding onto the lead all the way until under two minutes remaining when Hurst tied the game on a free throw at 82-82. After a made shot by Clinton, Hurst tied the game at 84 on a drive, then after a missed shot the Chargers took the lead as Austin drilled a corner three with 1:08 remaining. A LBC turnover led to a break for Clinton and the Golden Bears made a three with 32 seconds left to tie the game at 87-apiece, then Hurst took the ball and drove for a layup that dropped in to give the Chargers the lead by two with seven seconds remaining. The defense held strong as LBC held on for the two-point win and advanced to the National Semifinals tomorrow afternoon.
 
By the Numbers:
- The Chargers shot 51-percent from the floor, 40-percent from 3-point range, but shot just 44-percent from the free throw line
- The Golden Bears shot 49-percent from the floor, 42-percent from three, and 68-percent on free throws
- Trey Grube led the Chargers with a career-high six made 3-pointers, tying a career-high with 18 points
- Connor Storr added 17 points and 10 rebounds for a double-double
- Camden Hurst scored 16 points, including the game-winning layup with seven seconds to go
- Nile Austin and Jacob Lewis each totaled 12 points and three rebounds
- The Golden Bears were led by Jordan 'Snipes' Campbell with a game-high 21 points
 
Information to Know:
This was the Chargers' first-ever meeting with Clinton College and their fourth win at the NCCAA Division I National Tournament all-time, being their first since the 2021-22 season during their last trip to the National Championship. The Chargers' 89-87 win today was their tightest margin of victory (2 points) for the entire season and their first two-point win since December 30, 2024 in overtime at Salisbury. This marks the Chargers' second trip to the NCCAA Division I Semifinals (2021-22 being the first) and their fourth win this season by eight points or fewer. Camden Hurst became just the second player in Lancaster Bible's NCAA Division III history to score 600+ points in a season today, joining Jordan Shewbridge in 2021-22 with 612, and now sits just six points shy of setting the single-season DIII scoring record for LBC with 607 total points this season. Connor Storr recorded his first double-double of the season with 17 points and 10 rebounds, his third career double-double in three seasons. Storr also ranks 17th in program history with 409 rebounds, passing the 400-rebound mark in today's game.
 
Up Next:
The Chargers have advanced to the NCCAA Division I Semifinals to be played tomorrow on Thursday, March 19 as they will take on #7-seed Nelson American Indian College at 4:30 p.m. (3:30pm CT) for a spot in the National Championship game.