Bryn Athyn, Pa.- The Lions took to action Wednesday night vs. visiting PSU- Berks in NEAC conference match up.
The Nittany Lions started the game with the possession but both teams were unable to convert on the subsequent drives. PSU- Berks picked up the first score. Both teams caused two charges following the made basket. Deion Boyer responded with a drive to the basket and drew a foul, creating a successful three point play. At 14:45 the Lions were up 5-2. BAC put PSU Berks on the line, they knocked down both foul attempts closing the gap in the first five. Boyer followed with knocking down a deep three from an Austin Nyekan pass. The Lions also were able to pick up a defensive stop. Kehoe took part of the successful three point action from a Nyekan pass. Damon Fowler-Thomas also picked up a three and Nittany Lions were able to answer moving the score 16-13 at 10:15. At 8:38 the Lions were finally able to return even 18-18. Coach Baxter called a timeout for the first break of the first half.
Christian Burgraff was able to move PSU Berks ahead with a top key jumper. Boyer was put on the line and able two knock down both shots. Nyekan found a three of his own of a reciprocal Boyer dish. Devanate Laws got in on the successful three-point action, also founded by a Boyer assist. Kehoe added with a jumper and PSU followed with a layup. Boyer found a familiar free throw line and put away two singles. PSU drew a foul and headed to the line for a one-one t 1:28 due to foul trouble. An unfortunate technical foul opened the doors for PSU Berks and they were able to tie up the score under a minute, 30-30.
In the first half, Boyer led with 10 points. Christian Burgraf led for PSU Berks with nine points.
Fowler Thomas started the half with two singles. Nyekan also added a three from the corner from a Troy Steed pass. A lack of made baskets led to a low scoring first quarter of the half, at 14:51 the score was 39-38. With a two free throws and a three PSU-Berks moved ahead. James Flagg answered with a post move and score. PSU-Berks was able to move up with a seven-point lead.
At 10:43 Steed headed full steam ahead and was marked to hard from the PSU Berks leading to free attempts. Steed was only able to simmer the lead to seven points. Nyekan replicated Steeds attempt and subtracted the lead to five. A couple of possession later, Deion would get a similar opportunity but was only able to convert half. Fowler-Thomas made it 4-4 on possessions ending in foul shooting and added a single to the score. Another foul filled possession allowed Flower-Thomas to add a three-point play, followed by a visiting timeout. PSU came out with step in jumper to stop the run. At the 6:28 mark the score was 57-53 after a Perez free throw.
At the 4:24 mark PSU had three starters in foul trouble, sending a big t the bench for nigh retirement. Kehoe, fouled behind the three line, was able to put a way all three points. NL retaliated with a three, extending the lead by six. Carlos Perez, flew down the court for a rebound the visiting end. Following a hard push to the basket and big rebounding, the Perez was able to lay one in for two.
Within the one-minute marker the Lions found a defensive pick up and scored. Coach Baxter called a time out to regroup the Lions. Fowler-Thomas came out of the time out and put two up. The Lions fouled, putting PSU on the line, which they were able to convert both advancing three points. PSU called time out at :30 for a regrouping of their own. The possession out of the time out was intermediately stopped by a tipped PSU ball. BAC was unable to put away any shot before PSU found the line. They were unable to put away an either attempts, leaving BAC one last chance. In dramatic fashion, they were unable to complete a game equalizer and BAC would loose a close one by three.
Damontay Fowler Thomas led the Lions with 17 points and nine rebounds. The Lions return to action this Saturday in consecutive NEAC matches over the weekend.